Monday, January 27, 2014

White Ave

The little green house on White Ave. had once been quite a place.  Rows of grape vines, basement darkroom, wood floors.  Dallas and Tiki, the husky next door, started a family.  We had a cozy living room, a large kitchen and furnished dining room with plenty of windows and light.  It was the worst winter ever when Bob left for his job at the Huntington newspapers, but I was able to walk to town to take the bus to work.  I'd stop at Bailey's Grocery in South park and anxiously walk home to meet my pet.

May, 1977-February, 1978

Sunday, January 26, 2014

How to Make a Healthy Cupcake

This Chocolate Pear Cupcake is not just a cupcake without icing, one cupcake has 3 grams of fiber, only 6 grams of added sugar and almost a serving of fruits and vegetables.  You’ll never get that in a box mix.  It takes less than ½ hour to make. Here's how:

Mix egg and sugar in mixing bowl.  
Mix these 2 items as long as you want!

Drain pears.  Puree in food processor to resemble applesauce.





Mix liquid ingredients.  Add these and pureed pears to sugar/egg mixture.
Do not over mix! 





Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl.Stir into mixing bowl with a spoon.
Do not over mix!

.

Portion 1/4 cup batter into muffin tin that was sprayed with Pam.  
Do not use muffin papers.

Bake at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes.  Cool in pan 10 minutes.  
Finish cooling on cooling rack.

Recipe for 8 cupcakes:
Beat 1/3 cup brown sugar and 1 egg in mixer.

Puree 1-15 oz. can (drained) pear halves in juice. Mix 2 Tbsp. olive oil, 1/2 cup vanilla soymilk and 1 Tbsp. lemon juice.  Add these and pureed pears to sugar/egg mixture.

Mix dry ingredients together in a separate bowl:  1 tsp. cinnamon, 2/3 cup whole wheat flour, 1/3 cup all purpose flour, 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa, 2/3 tsp. baking powder and 1/3 tsp. baking soda.  Stir into mixing bowl with spoon or spatula.  Do not over mix.



Spray muffin tins with Pam.  Do not use muffin papers.  Portion 1/4 cup batter into each.  Bake at 376 degree oven for 40 minutes.  Cool for 10 minutes in pan, then remove to a cooling rack.  

150 calories, 5 grams fat, 140 mg sodium, 26 grams carbohydrate, 3 grams fiber, 4 grams protein



 


Friday, January 24, 2014

Grow Your Blog

Welcome to my blog new and old friends around the world!  My blog began in 2007 as a place I could share and archive my scrapbook pages.  I have cut and pasted since a child in the 1950s when I made my first scrapbooks with pictures of Elvis Presley cut from magazines!  I met my husband in the darkroom while a college student and share his love of photography.  He is a very talented photo journalist.  Together we've made many memories.  

I am a registered dietitian and meal planner in my work and home life.  Lately I have evolved my blog to include more of the healthy recipes I've created at home.  

I welcome recipe challenges and am inspired by scrapbook designs and meal photography. Enjoy the "party around the world"!

Saturday, January 18, 2014

McClane Ave.

We married on Labor Day 1976 after Bob's WVU graduation and my internship graduation.  We rented our first house in Morgantown with Bob's former roommate Kim upstairs.  Bob started work 1 day after the honeymoon, I had a month till mine began.  I taught myself to make bread and made dinner for the 3 of us.  We went to the shelter & adopted our first "child", whom we named Dallas.  I spent the year studying for my registration exam & adapting to my job as a clinical dietitian.  Bob began working for Steve Lorenze at Superior Photo and to this day we remain friends with the family. 

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Keep the Old

Last year when my high school friends & I turned 60, we gathered near our hometown for a reunion.  I met Denise & Liz at Deep Creek later in the summer for lunch, then looked up my life long friend Linda when attending a scrapbook convention in Lancaster.  Buddy welcomed Bob & I both at his Houston home when I was there for FNCE.  It was like old times, so easy to relate and share.  2013

I also got to spend quite a bit of time with my friend Debbie when here brother was hospitalized at the Medical Center where I work.  Debbie and her husband Jon joined me for lunch one day at HSC.  Debbie's brother was terminally ill, so it was a sad time (no pictures)  yet good for all of us to spend time together.

The title is from the verse, "Make new friends but keep the old.  One is silver, the other gold".  

Have a great week.

Friday, January 10, 2014

One of the Same

My older sister Terry's birthday is today.  This is for her.

"Back to back.  Side by side.  One of the same.  Sisters Terry and Cindy.  2014 and c1955."

The title is one of the definitions for "Sisterhood".

Have a great weekend!

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Good Apples

The holidays were blessed with family, get togethers and the comfort of home.  2013

For my applesauce "recipe", visit my Pinterest board, "The Meal Planner".  

Enjoy your day!

Friday, January 3, 2014

Sparkler

Michelle was in town just 4 1/2 days.  On Monday, she met her best girlfriend near Wheeling, WV for lunch and then a pedicure.  She had fun sparkling toenails to match her pretty dress for New Year's Eve.  Michelle's the Sparkler in Greg's life!  2013

This is the last official vacation day for me (though I do have the weekend!)  I have been doing lots of creating.  Here's yesterday's lunch, "Prosperity Salad", with Pear Banana Smoothie and (local) New Day Bakery Spinach Feta Loaf.  It is a tradition that Black Eyed Peas served at the New Year bring prosperity!  
For recipes, visit my Pinterest page, The Meal Planner.

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Reminisce

A few years ago, I "found" my Dad's 1st cousin living near to me in Monongalia County.  She and my Dad, who lives 70 miles away in Maryland, had never met.  I arranged a visit and thereafter Bernice and her niece Gerry have traveled with me on visits to my parents home in Maryland.  Bernice spent many of her childhood days there and Gerry is a geneaologist so they share many memories with my Mom and Dad.  I love it when they join me as they talk, talk, talk and are so interesting!  Did I mention Bernice is 92 and my Dad is 91?

"After 2 trips were postponed early in December due to weather, Gerry, Bernice and I visit Mom, Dad and Terry for brunch and talking about the ancestors."

I still get a kick out of this:  When I returned to town I needed to wash the road salt off my car, and left the car run while I did a quick hosing in the hand held car wash.  The ladies were inside the car, "yacking" after a full day.  So much fun for all!