A Warm Home for Winter (just a dream?)

Ahhh yes, here it is again, winter weather.

It can be very beautiful! If you have a warm place to get out of the cold. That is even with having warm clothing and protection. You need that warm place to return to!

But what if you don’t?

Not having the money for furnace repairs. Not having enough money to supply the winters fuel? Rough you say? Yes, it is rough.

Do you feel so concerned about it that you give your extra $$$$ to some big Org. for the poor/rich. That makes everyone warm for the whole winter right? Those at the top are! That we know, as it was a warm building right:)

Yes, there are always those who rip off and take advantage. So you have to have someone in charge of all the paper work of incomes to keep and eye on everyone.

I admit I was so down to nothing/injuried /no job/ so no income/ sold everything that would sell! I had to ask for help. Did I get it ? No, did not even get to fill out papers. Its all gone they said can not help you. But took next person into office? They came from another place that gave them aid?????? You had to be some regular making the rounds person, so they knew you on sight?

So what do you do in that case? Put on every piece of clothing you can get on. Then wrap up in every blanket you have and rely on your breath to help heat your blanket tent. You of course are praying for a short winter and warm weather once again.

You try to remember the last time you had a warm home in winter and you smile at the thought of it all.

As it was just a dream…..

Wait!!! Maybe this is just a nightmare and none of it is real at all!

Flaxjacks

The Biggest Loser : Biggest Loser Recipes

Flaxjacks

Flaxseed boosts heart health in this breakfast treat from The Biggest Loser Simple Swaps.

Whole grains add texture and flavor to any recipe, and flaxseed contains heart-healthy omega-3s. Cook your flaxjacks over moderate heat so they don?t burn; the flaxseed makes them brown more quickly. Serve hot with a fruit spread or a low-calorie syrup.

Makes 8 servings of 2 (4¨) flaxjacks

Ingredients
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup stone-ground cornmeal
2 tablespoons wheat bran or oat bran
2 tablespoons flaxseed meal (see note)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large egg whites
1 3/4 cups fat-free or 1% milk
2 tablespoons olive oil or canola oil
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, bran, flaxseed meal, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In a small mixing bowl or blender, whisk together the egg whites, milk, oil, and vanilla until smooth. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour the liquid mixture into the well and stir just until combined. Allow the batter to stand for about 30 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator. Add more milk, if needed, to obtain batter the consistency of thick cream.

Heat a nonstick griddle or nonstick skillet (coated with cooking spray if necessary) to medium heat. For each flaxjack, pour a scant 1?4 cup of batter onto the griddle. Cook until the flaxjacks are puffed and dry around the edges. Turn and cook the other side until golden brown.

Note: If you can't find flaxseed meal, you can grind whole flaxseeds yourself in a spice grinder or clean coffee grinder. Grind to the consistency of cornmeal. Four teaspoons of whole flaxseeds yield approximately 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal.

Per serving: 160 calories, 6 g protein, 23 g carbohydrates, 5 g fat (1 g saturated), 0 mg cholesterol, 4 g fiber, 320 mg sodium

Baked Ziti

Baked Ziti

It may seem that baked ziti would have to be off-limits on the Biggest Loser meal plan, but fortunately, it's not so. From the new The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook.

While you don't want to eat baked ziti for every meal, it's no problem to enjoy as a treat every once in awhile, thanks to reduced-fat cheese and the fiber-enriched pastas that are now available. Remember, to maintain long-term weight loss it's important not to feel deprived. Enjoying much healthier versions of your favorite "cheat foods" from time to time can help keep you on track.

Makes 8 servings
Olive oil spray
1 (14 1/2-ounce) box fiber-enriched ziti or penne rigate (I used Ronzoni Smart Taste)
1 (15-ounce) container fat-free ricotta cheese
2 large egg whites
8 ounces (4 cups) finely shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt, to taste
Ground black pepper, to taste
Crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
3 1/2 cups low-fat, low-sodium, marinara sauce
2 tablespoons grated reduced-fat Parmesan cheese

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly mist a 13" x 9" x 2" ceramic or glass baking dish with the olive oil spray.

Cook the ziti according to package directions until al dente. Drain.

In a large mixing bowl, mix the ricotta, egg whites, and all but 1 cup of the mozzarella until well combined. Add the garlic powder and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir in the cooked pasta until well combined.

Spread 1 cup of the marinara sauce on the bottom of the prepared dish.

Add half of the pasta in an even layer over the sauce.

Layer the remaining pasta over the sauce. Spoon the remaining 1 1/2 cups sauce evenly over the top of the pasta, then sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and the Parmesan over the top.

Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake 10 minutes longer, or until the mozzarella is melted. Let stand 5 minutes. Cut into 8 pieces or spoon among 8 bowls and serve.

Nutrition at a Glance
Per serving: 350 calories, 22 g protein, 57 g carbohydrates, 6 g fat (3 g saturated), 20 mg cholesterol, 8 g fiber, 429 mg sodium

Pete's Man-Size Low-Calorie Omelet

Biggest Loser Recipes

Pete's Man-Size Low-Calorie Omelet

Breakfast lovers will leap out of bed for this veggie and cheese-packed egg dish. Excerpted from The Biggest Loser Cookbook.

The Biggest Loser Season 2’s Pete Thomas often refers to this--one of his favorite low-calorie recipes--as the Garbage-Can Breakfast. He uses the omelet recipe as a general guideline, but basically grabs all of the veggies from his refrigerator at any given time and creates a one-of-a-kind low-calorie omelet.

Makes 1 serving

1 uncooked Biggest Winner Breakfast Sausage patty, crumbled
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped yellow bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped orange bell pepper
1/2 cup Cheese & Chive Egg Beaters
1 wedge (3/4 ounce) Laughing Cow Light Garlic & Herb cheese, chopped

Salt, to taste
Ground black pepper, to taste

Set a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until it is hot enough for a spritz of water to sizzle on it. With an oven mitt, briefly remove from the heat to mist with olive oil spray. Place the sausage, onion, mushrooms, and bell peppers in the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 6 minutes, or until the sausage is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender. Remove from the pan. Cover and set aside to keep warm.

Mist the pan with olive oil spray. Set over medium heat. Add the Egg Beaters. Cook, lifting the edges with a spatula as they start to set and tipping the pan for uncooked Egg Beaters to run underneath, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until almost set. With a spatula, flip the omelet. Scatter the cheese evenly over half of the egg mixture. Top with the reserved vegetables. Fold the omelet in half. Cook for about 1 minute, or until the cheese melts. Transfer to a serving plate. Season with salt and pepper. Serve your omelet immediately.

Nutrition at a Glance
Per serving: 213 calories, 24 g protein, 22 g carbohydrates, 4 g fat (1 g saturated), 28 mg cholesterol, 4 g fiber, 605 mg sodium