Loser Monday

Last week Judy suggested the losers post a salad recipe (dinner). I updated the Pita Salad, because I love it, to have meat and cheese, too.


Updated Pita Salad

Serving Size: (I refigured everything so this would make one large salad for me, but would easily serve 2 side salads.) 1
WW: 9 points

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet.

Mix in a small prep bowl:
1 pinch dried cilantro
1 pinch cumin
1 pinch dried red pepper flakes
1 pinch paprika
1 pinch oregano

1/2 PITA: spray both sides with PAM and rub with the above mixture

Bake for 10 minutes and allow to cool slightly. Rip into pieces to toss into salad.

Rough Chop (I like big chunks) for salad and place in medium bowl:
1/2 c fresh mint
1/2 c fresh parsley
1/2 c red pepper
1/2 c green pepper
1/2 c tomatoes
1/4 c sweet onion
2 ounces of deli roast beef
1/4 c mozerella cheese

Add pieces of Pita.

Dressing:
1 TBSP lemon juice
1 TBSP EVOO
1 tsp fresh garlic chopped
1 pinch of splenda

Good luck this week!

A start

This is going to be short. Here's what I am working on. . .




If you haven't already, head on over to Mid-Ohio Knitter's giveaway. Vickie is just so sweet and fun. If you haven't already, check out her tutorial on Moda Bakeshop Blog. . .congrats to Vickie for being a designer on the blog! That is so "sweet".

A Finish

As much as I love this table topper, I decided to give it to a friend for her birthday. I found a perfect blue candle and white candle plate to go with it. After snapping this, I found one area that needed some extra attention, so I ripped and fixed. Then I ironed it and wrapped it up. It felt good to be done.

Did I mention I have 1 more of these charm packs and enough yardage to make one more for me? I told you I loved it.

Flea Market Fancy Quilt Top Lakehouse Version

Have you been over here lately? That Ms. Amanda Jean amazes me with all of her quilting.

I wanted to make a quick baby quilt. I had some Lakehouse charm squares that I love. In fact, I think I have had them for over a year; you can only love and hoard something for so long and then you really ought to do something with it. So with a quick trip to the quilting store to pick up some yardage, I was able to make this fun pink, green, and yellow Lakehouse Flea Market Fancy quilt top. I really do like the simplicity of it.

I loved this pattern so much that I plan on making it in a full for my spare bed using some fabric in my stash. Someday. This is a really quick quilt to whip up. If you'd like to make your own, the directions are here.

It is 48 inches square, which is probably a bit big for a baby quilt but I like to give a quilt that will grow into toddler hood with them.

Loser Monday Post

Sharon asked that we all post a diet friendly dessert this week. So I will start with dessert first. . .

Strawberry Shortcake
Serves: 4
WW: 4

1 pint of strawberries, cleaned and slice
1/4 c sugar (you could make this even more figure friendly by using Splenda)
1 cup Bisquick Heart Smart mix
2 TBSP sugar
1/3 c fat free milk
Fat free whipped topping

Stir strawberries and 1/4 c sugar. Let sit and get good and juicy.
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Stir Bisquick mix, 2 tbsp sugar and milk just until soft dough forms. Drop by 4 spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Split warm shortcakes; place on a plate. Top with berries and whipped topping.

Are you sick of lettuce? Here is a nice twist on salad minus the lettuce:
Confetti Greek Salad
Serves 2
WW: 2

Chop:
1/2 c cucumber (I prefer the crunch of English Cucumbers)
a handful of baby carrots
1/2 stalk of celery
1/2 red pepper
1/4 small sweet onion
1/2 c tomato

Put in a bowl, toss to mix.
Add:
1/4 c feta
3-4 tbsp Kraft Low Fat Extra Virgin Olive Oil Greek Dressing
Sprinkle of black pepper


Have you tried the new dressings put out by Kraft made with EVOO? They are delicious and I am addicted to the Greek dressing. I love Greek dressing and could never find a WW friendly version! Well, hold on my friends because this is only 1 WW point for 2 TBSP!


Diet Update:
This week: I lost 1 pound
Total since the challenge stared: 3 pounds
Total since dieting in the fall: 21 pounds
Remaining pounds to lose: at least 17 pounds

Sharing Some Sewing Love- SWAP projects

Well, the secret is out. Jen was my partner. She just emailed me that she received her package, so I am at liberty to write about it. I know Jen checks my blog often, so I didn't want to ruin the surprise.

My main homemade project was this table quilt. Of course, Jen could hang it or do just whatever her little heart pleases with it, but the pattern was for a table quilt. You may remember I have made this pattern previously in fall tones. I do wish I would have quilted Jen's version a bit more than I did. I get a bit nervous when quilting the finish piece. But I thought, overall, it turned out very nice and cheerful. This was a Moda charm pack I bought last year.

I also made this cute towel in complementing colors. I downloaded this heart from Embroidables.com. I know Anna has used this site before, but it was my first time. I really liked how easy it was to download from. The heart is meant to be really cutsie with the flowers on it and it is wonky in shape not symmetrical. Husband thought I did something wrong and I had to explain that a heart does not always have to be symmetrical! LOL

I threw in some baking accessories because I know Jen and Amelia bake together. I also threw in some fat free mochas because I wanted to put something sweet in the mix, but Jen and I are both on the diet challenge! And, there were a few more odds and ends. I really enjoyed being Jen's partner. It was a fun swap.

Just a reminder to the rest of you swappers, 12 days left to send out your project! I have heard from 3 of you so far. Keep those projects coming.

It's a BEAUTIFUL thing. . .

Over winter break, one of my resolutions was to finish quilt tops that were partially done. I finished the house quilt which had sat in the drawer with all of the blocks done since the fall.

When I first started blogging last year, I took a class on paper piecing a New York Beauty quilt. A few of you may remember that, but most of you I hadn't connected with yet.


The owner of my favorite quilt shop encouraged me to take it saying anyone could paper piece. Well, she was right and I did love the ease of paper piecing. However, the next part...the part she failed to tell would be very difficult and I was too fresh of a quilter to realize what I was getting into....the curved piecing part, well that wasn't quite so simple. My blocks really were wonky and a bit out of shape, even though they connected with the arks just like she told me too.

Last night, I sewed all of the blocks together and then put the borders on. I had put this off for almost a year and I know the reason why I did. I feared it would be an uneven, crooked nightmare putting them together. (Please imagine the horror show movie music playing here.)

However, I am delighted to say that it was not bad and really the blocks look pretty good. I am proud that I tried a new technique and lived to tell about it!

I also think that getting an extra year of sewing experience behind me before dealing with the mis-shapened things really did help me. I have done a ton of sewing this year and there have been several times lately that I have noticed huge ways in which I have grown in technique.