I love my mother-in-law!

I have the best MIL in the entire world. She is a wonderful, sweet, caring Christian lady. She makes me smile!

She is really trying to understand this new way I am eating. She stopped by for a few minutes today and we were talking about Easter dinner. We always eat Easter dinner with my in-laws. So I asked her to let me know what the menu is, and I will fill in with what I can eat. We are having:

Ham
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Asparagas
Tossed Salad

She then asked me what I can eat. I told her I do not eat white flours, refined sugars, artificial sweeteners, preservatives or any pre-packaged food. So basically cook from scratch with whole ingredients. I told her I'd be OK with the salad, asparags and perhaps mashed potatoes if she uses butter in them.

So then, she asks me, "Well, I'm making jell-o pretzel salad for dessert. You can eat that, right?" It was really hard to not just start laughing. I had just told her I am NOT eating anything packaged, sugar, etc,. etc. She really does mean well.

I did tell her not to worry about me and dessert. If I felt the need for dessert, I'd make a pineapple upside down cake or almond coffee cake and bring it. I will definately be taking fresh fruit salad. I am just pleased that she is having tossed salad instead of 7-layer salad with Miracle Whip and bacon and asparagas instead of green beans with diced ham in them!

Yippee! It's the weekend!

Now that Doug is home on the weekends, I so look forward to Friday-Sunday! And a busy weekend we are having this week!

Today Doug has done many errands while I made dinner. We had vegetable lasagna, ww cheesy Italian garlic bread, and a tossed salad. It was SO good! After lunch we went for a short walk and sat on the swing. Oh yes, it is a glorious day here! I'm enjoying it to the fullest. It is 65* and sunny! We have snow forecasted for next week. Doug and Allen just walked around the block for a hair cut.

Tonight is my nephews' birthday party. One has a birthday in January and one in April, so my sister combines them into one party for some reason. And tonight is the night. I am looking forward to visiting with my family.

Tomorrow morning Allen has bowling league, the afternoon is our prayer group's Easter egg hunt/bonfire/picnic. They are calling for rain. I hope they are wrong! In the evening Doug and I are going dancing. Savoy is playing so we need to be there for load in and tear down. I am looking forward to it!

Sunday Jordan and Isaac are in a bowing tournament at noon. Doug and my FIL will take them to that while Allen and I go to church and rest and relax in the afternoon. My Gramma is visiting our church Sunday morning with a friend, so we will be on the lookout for her!

So that is our weekend. Someday we are going to relax on the weekend LOL. Although we are going to be relaxing, just running here and there to do it.

Our spring break has started today when everybody finished their schoolwork! Yippee!! I do have to correct Isaac's work, and then we're done. Next week we will spend a couple days at the lake opening the cabin for my Dad and Cay! Oh, we CANNOT wait for fishing season to begin. Open the cabin and next thing you know, put in the dock and the boats. Oh yeah...I'm looking forward to nice weather, family time at the lake, weekends alone with Doug at the lake, our family vacation at the lake (I especially love sunset boat rides with Doug while the boys fish on the dock!).

Oops, got carried away there for a minute LOL. So some of our spring break will be opening the cabin, some of it will be doing a few big household chores, and other than that, I plan to do nothing!

Terrific Thursday!

I've been having quite the week. I'm overwhelmed and trying to do everything I have to do without aggrivating this fibro, not an easy task! So today I am purposing to have a terrific day no matter what the circumstances look like!

Doug's work schedule has changed again. It takes me a few weeks each time it changes to get accustomed to it. Right now he has Friday-Sunday evening off, yippee! So I am wanting to move my Friday shopping errands to Thursday. I really should have thought of this yesterday, since I have yet to make a menu or a shopping list. I go to 3-5 stores, depending, so I really don't want to take up my Friday doing that when Doug is home. I also think we'll do very little school on Friday. So today is looking very busy and I pray I can get it all done! My to do list:

~Get these boys moving on breakfast and school
~Weekly housecleaning chores for all of us. I have to dust and do laundry. The boys do the heavy furniture moving and vacuuming, scrubbing the kitchen floor and scrubbing the bathroom.
~School
~Make a menu & shopping list
~Go to many places to do said shopping
~Take the boys to the bowling alley. They are practicing for a tournament they are in on Sunday. The BA is only 5 min. from me, thankfully. Most things are 5-10 min. from me and I love that part of living here.
~Cook something for these people lol

I also need to get in a better routine of cooking on the days that Doug isn't home. I am feeling quite unorganized, but in a couple weeks I should be adjusted and have a routine. Did I mention that I don't do change well?? God really is stretching me in this area the past year or so!

We're also trying to decide schooling options for next year. I am feeling so torn. In my heart I'd love to hs through high school. Physically and emotionally, I don't want to do it any more. I am exhausted and overwhelmed with the amount of work high school is.

I'm sorry to be so whiney, especially after I said today would be terrific despite the circumstances. So I am off to have a Terrific day in the Lord!

The Hairstyler

Have you ever used The Hairstyler? I tried this last night and it was SO much fun! You upload your photo and then can try on hundreds of hair styles. Allen and I tried bright purple with spikey hair. Not a good look for me LOL.

I was happy to see that most of what I liked is variations of what I already have. So that is good. I have been contemplating cutting my bangs (after months of growing!) and realized that I like them just the way they are.

So The Hairstyler gives you styling instructions, cutting instructions and suggests what type of hair a certain style would work with. I liked SO many more, but thick and dense hair is what they recommended. I have thin and sparse hair, so I stuck with styles that suggested that!

I am trying to grow my hair out longer. Doug loves long hair. It has been a LONG time since I've had long hair. So I'm trying to let it grow for my honey.

I somewhat like this one:

I really like this one and hope to get it to this point sometime:

I liked this one a lot. I think it looks very similar to what I have. I'm going to take these into my hair dresser next time and show her what I'm aiming for.

So what do you think?

OK, I need to wake boys and get a start on my day! I have much to do today and not a lot of motiviation. Good thing I don't have to work on feelings and I can just do the next thing!

It is beautiful here today!

Our weather the past 2 days has been absolutely beautiful! So sunny and warm. It was 77* today! So not the norm for March where I live. The atmosphere is very unstable and we are expecting storms. My body is reacting to this weather, and I did spend quite a bit of time in bed today and doing the least amount possible. But I did get things accomplished. On days like this, I need to remember what I did. So what did I do today?

~Got up and got the kids going on chores, breakfast and school
~Read aloud
~Planned dinner (leftovers from prayer, oh so easy!)
~Talked to Doug

About 10 I went back to bed. I heated a rice bag and put it on my hip and leg. After a while I did the other side. I wished I had more rice bags for my neck and shoulders. The right side of my body feels like somebody is pushing HARD on my shoulder and it hurts all the way through my back, hip and leg. So horrible. I know....if feels like I've carried a very heavy purse on my shoulder for a long time, you know that feeling?

So about 2 I got up and I have done more stuff lol.

~Sat on the swing with Doug before he left for work. It was SO gorgeous!
~Did 4 loads of wash
~Ran the boys to the bowling alley. They have a tournament Sunday and need practice.
~Helped Allen make fliers and business cards. He wants to walk dogs.
~Ate dinner
~Put away Doug's and my laundry. Even cleaned out the closet a bit. I was out of hangers and something had to go LOL.

I think that's about it. Oh, I was playing around on The Hairstyler website looking for a new do. It was SO fun, but the site went down and I can't get back. So I'll have to try again later. Doug wants me to grow my hair long, so I'm looking for an "in between" look while getting there.

Tomorrow I hope to feel better and head to Curves. I usually go on Monday, but decided my body needed to rest again today. Hopefully I can make it tomorrow. We are supposed to have rain the rest of the week, and I am praying that it doesn't kick my butt!

I have the GREATEST husband EVER!!

So today was very busy. We were out very late last night and didn't get to bed until about 3am. We woke up about 8am and got us all ready for church, put the taco meat in the crock pot and generally made sure the house was great!

After church people started arriving. We had a wonderful time of sharing and prayer. I just love having like-minded friends that we can laugh with, cry with and pray with. It was so awesome. While we adults pray in the living room, the teens generally go into another room and have a time of sharing and prayer. Well, the elementary aged kids were so upset that they didn't have prayer time. So we settled them at the dining room table and they shared and prayed. It was adorable the things they prayed for. The 4th grader wrote down all the requests and she also lead prayer. I just love what God is doing in all our lives!

We had dinner together. It is wild! Kids running here and there and everywhere. A couple of the men had to leave for one reason or another. A couple other husbands weren't here today. One was sick and one had other plans. So all together the women way outnumbered the men. After dinner there were 8 women I think and 3 men left. Our kids are having an egg hunt Saturday, so we all stuff candy in eggs. Well, somebody found a GREAT deal on plastic eggs. 250 eggs for $9. Well, there was a reason for that! The eggs were VERY hard to close. So a 20 min. job took about an hour or more. It was hillarious! We would jump and shout for glee when we finally closed an egg LOL. It took 5+ minutes to close some of these things.

So after all this, a few more people left and the ones left sat around for fellowship. It was a glorious day here and the kids were outside playing basketball. All that was left were women, so while we sat in the living room and laughed and talked, Doug cleaned up the entire kitchen! He put away all leftovers, washed dishes, loaded the dishwasher, wiped tables and counters. He is the BEST and I mean BEST husband in the world! I am so very blessed to have him.

One of the ladies went into the kitchen and commented what a good guy he was to help me. He told her that I worked so hard to get it together yesterday, and that not only did he want to help me, but he wanted to sit on the swing with me and talk after they all left. So he didn't want me in the kitchen. How sweet is that?? So I just had to brage on this wonderful gift that the Lord has given me!

Oh, it's the weekend!!

It has been a few days since I've had a chance to sit down and blog. Our weather has been horrible, rainy and cold and dreary. It is really affecting my fibro. Not to the point that I cannot function at all PTL! But enough that I am doing the least amount I have to and then resting. Thank God I've made great changes in my diet. I know that is helping me.

Yesterday my family had the opportunity to meet a Sonlight Forum buddy and her family. They were about an hour north of us. Her son is at Bible quiz. So we drove up there to meet them. It was great fun for Doug, me and her and her husband to sit around and talk while the boys swam.

We have prayer group here tomorrow. So today I've cleaned and tidied the house. I've also made 10 lbs. of taco meet and 2 lbs. of Venezulean black beans for tacos and burritos tomorrow. I also made 2 pineapple upside down cakes from a Sue Gregg cookbook. I hope they are good!

So I am about to take a snooze. Things are about finished for tomorrow. I'll cycle another load of laundry and sleep for the afternoon. Doug and I are going dancing tonight and I want to feel good for that. I am SO blessed that his schedule has worked out that he can have the weekends off! I sure missed our weekends.

Preemie Baby Afghan

Brenda from the Sonlight Forums had a preemie a few weeks ago. She posted this link for donating items to give to preemies. I made this preemie afghan pattern It didn't take long and doesn't use much yarn. So I am going to make quite a few more before sending it off. I am hoping to use up all my scrap baby yarn.

Here's the one I finished last night. It is SO tiny, only 14.5 x 14.5.

Red Sauce
2-28 oz. cans tomato puree + 2 cans water
3-6oz cans tomato paste + 2 cans water
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
salt
pepper
parsley
basil
oregano
1 whole onion, peeled

Mix the tomato products and water together. Drop in the whole, peeled, onion (we don't like to chew onion but love the flavor). Sprinkle the top of the sauce with salt, pepper, generous amounts of parsley and oregano and 1/2 as much basil. Add minced garlic. Simmer all day or just a few hours. Makes about 4 qts.

Meatballs

3 lbs. ground round
2 eggs
1/3 c. tomato puree from making sauce
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
salt, pepper, oregano, parsley, basil
3 handfulls fresh romano or parmesan cheese
2 handfulls dry breadcrumbs (seasoned or not. I use whole wheat.)

Mix all that together. Form into balls and drop into sauce. Simmer with the sauce all day.

Creamy Spinach Tuna Casserole

5 c. uncooked egg noodles (whole wheat egg noodles)
1 c. reduced-fat sour cream (regular sour cream)
½ c. fat-free mayo (light miracle whip)
3 tsp. lemon juice
2T butter (oops, used 4T plus 1 large clove garlic squeezed in it)
¼ c. all purpose flour (whole wheat pastry flour)
2 c. fat-free milk
1/3 c. + 2T or more) fresh Parmesan cheese, grated (Romano)
10 oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
6 oz. package reduced-sodium chicken stuffing mix (left this out)
1/3 c. seasoned bread crumbs (ww bread crumbs)
2 6-oz. cans tuna, drained and flakes
I added a liberal amount of Italian seasonings

Cook noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the sour cream, mayo and lemon juice; set aside.

In a large saucepan, melt butter and garlic. Stir in flour until blended. Gradually stir in milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 min. or until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in 1/3 c. Parmesan cheese until melted. Remove from the heat. Add milk mixture to bowl with sour cream mixture and stir in spinach, stuffing mix, bread crumbs and tuna, and spinach; mix well. (I added Italian seasonings now).

Drain noodles and stir into spinach mixture. Transfer to a lightly oiled 9x13 baking dish (I used the PC deep dish baker and it fit perfectly). Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Cover and bake at 350* for 35 min., uncover and bake 5-10 min. longer until lightly browned. (I baked at 425 for 20 min. and uncovered for 5).

For recipe as printed:
1 servings = 346 calories, 9 g fat, 2 g fiber, 24 g. protein

Whole Wheat Bread
(2 loaves)

1/3 c. honey
1/3 c. oil
2-½ c. warm water
1 ½ Tbs yeast
2-½ tsp. sea salt
6-7 c. fresh whole wheat flour (I used King Arthur flour, ½ soft white and ½ hard red)
3T vital wheat gluten

Combine the warm water, yeast, vital wheat gluten and 2 c. flour in a large mixing bowl. Whisk vigorously until well combined. Allow to sponge for 15 min. Add the honey, oil, salt and 4-5 c. additional flour until the bowl begins to clean the sides of the mixing bowl. (Actually I do this by hand. I mix it by hand, knead it about 8 min. by hand and then put it into the kitchen aid with the dough hook for 2 or 3 more min.) Dough should be smooth and elastic. Do not add too much flour.

Put into a greased bowl, cover and let rise 1 hour. Punch down. I do an additional rise. I think it makes the bread lighter and tenderer and my kids are more apt. to eat it. So after punching down, I let rise 1 more hour.

Remove from bowl and divide in half. Form into loaves. At this point, I rolled the dough into a rectangle and spread raw sugar, cinnamon and raisins all over it, then rolled up and put into a greased loaf pan to rise. Let rise until double, 45-60*.

Bake loaves for 25-30 min. at 350*. Bread is cooked when it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom and the top/sides are golden brown.

You can put an egg wash on the bread. Depending on the color you’d like, here is what you can use.

Egg yolk and cream wash will give a VERY dark brown color
Egg yolk will give dark brown color
Whole egg with give a dark golden brown color
Egg white will give light golden brown color

I didn’t remember to brush with egg wash, so when the loaves came out of the oven, I brushed with melted butter.

The raisin bread is SO yummy, light and lightly sweet. I made 2 loaves of that and 2 loaves regular bread. I’m going to serve it with dinner tomorrow when my in-laws come. I am planning to make many loaves of bread and fill the freezer. I am anxious for when I can get a Bosch!
I adapted this recipe from The Urban Homemaker bread recipe. She has many variations of what to do with the bread. They all look so good. So check out that site if you are interested in making cinnamon pull-aparts, caramel nut pull-aparts, bread sticks, onion cheese bread, garlic-herb Parmesan bread, jalapeno-ranch sharp cheese, onion hamburger buns, onion-dill bread, dried tomato and rosemary bread, cinnamon rolls with apple filling. I am hoping to try many of those!

This recipe is SO good! It is also good to roll the filling in the tortilla and make burritos. Sprinkle with cheese and bake. We like our tortillas to be crunchy. When you make it in the pie, the top tortilla is the only crunchy one.

Black Bean Tortilla Pie

1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14 ounces) vegetable broth
1 package (10 ounces) frozen corn, thawed4 green onions, thinly sliced
4 flour tortillas (8 inches & I use whole wheat)
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese, divided (I used regular cheese and used 2 cups because we love cheese)

In a large skillet, saute the onion, green pepper, garlic, cumin, and pepper in oil. Add beans and broth. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced to about 1/3 cup. Stir in corn and green onions; remove from the heat.

Place one tortilla in a 9" springform pan coated with nonstick cooking spray. Layer with 1-1/2 cups bean mixture and 1/4 cup cheese. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining tortilla. Place pan on a baking sheet.

Bake, uncovered, at 400* for 15-20 minutes or until heated through. Remove sides of pan. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cut into wedges.

I always make mini bread loaves for my neighbors at Christmas. It is a family favorite.

Cranberry Nut Bread

2 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 egg
3/4 c. orange juice
1T grated orange zest
1 1/2 c. fresh or frozen cranberries
1/2 c. chopped walnuts

In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Beat egg, orange juice and peel; stir into dry ingredients just until blended (batter is thick). Add the cranberries and walnuts. Spoon into a greased and floured loaf pan. Bake at 350* for 65-70 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.

**This makes 4 small loaves. Bake at 350* for 30-35 min.
YIELD: 1 loaf or 4 small loaves

This is a Pampered Chef recipe. It is SO good!

Smothered chicken with garlic

3 T. fresh rosemary or 1 T. dried rosemary, divided
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1 whole chicken (about 4 lbs...I need to double this!)
1 lemon, cut into quarters
1 T olive oil
2 heads garlic, peeled and whole (about 40 cloves)

Preheat oven to 375*. Lightly spray 9x13 dish with oil (the pampered chef baker/lid bowl is yummy!). Combine half of the rosemary with paprika, salt and pepper in a small bowl; set aside. remove and discard giblets and neck from chicken cavity. Rinse chicken with cold water; pay dry with paper towels. Trim excess fat, if necessary. Place lemon quarters and remaining rosemary inside cavity of chicken. Tie ends of legs together with cotton string. Lift wing tips up toward neck, then tuck under back of chicken. Place chicken breast side up into baker.

Brush outside of chicken with oil; coat completely with seasoning mixture. Arrange garlic around chicken. Bake, covered, 60 minute. Carefully remove lid and continue roasting 25-35 minutes or until thermometer registers 180*F in thickest part of thigh an djuices run clear. Remove chicken from baker; let stand 10 minutes before carving. Remove garlic from dripping; serve with chicken.

YIELD: 4-6 servings

The garlic is so good and is great smeared on bread.

I serve this with brown rice and cornbread. All but my pickiest eater like it! Jordan thinks it could be spicier, so perhaps I'll add chili powder next time??


Venezuelan Black Beans

2 c. (1 lb.) dried black beans
1/4 c. ketchup
1/4 c. chopped onion
1 tsp. beef or vegetable bouillon granules
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. garlic powder (I used fresh garlic)
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. pepper
I also used some Pampered Chef Southwest seasoning

Soak beans overnight OR place beans in a Dutch oven or soup kettle; add water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 min. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 1 hour.

Drain and rinse beans, discarding liquid. Return beans to the pan; add water to cover by 2". Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour or until the beans are almost tender.

Drain beans and reserve 2 cups of liquid. Return beans and reserved liquid to Dutch oven. Stir in remaining ingredients. remove half the bean mixture and mash well (I never do this); return to the pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until beans reach desired consistency.

YIELD: 12 servings

1/2 c. = 2 WW points

This is a family favorite. I've not yet tried to make it whole wheat, but it is on my list of things to do! Oh yes, I no longer bake it with the water in the oven. I just put the loaves on a Pampered Chef stone and they are crusty enough for me.

Cheesy Italian Bread

1 package active dry yeast
1 1/4 c. warm water (110-115*)
2 T sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic powder (I am going to try fresh next time)
1/2 c. grated Romano cheese
3 to 3 1/2 c. flour

In a mixing bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in water. Add salt, garlic powder, cheese and 2 c. of flour; beat until smooth (I do this all by hand). Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Please in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rest in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch dough down; divide in half. Shape each half into a 14" loaf. Place on an ungreased baking sheet that has been sprinkled with cornmeal. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 min. Brush loaves with water. Make three diagonal slashes about 1/2 in. deep with a very sharp knife in each loaf. Fill a 9x13 inch baking pan with 1" of hot water and place on the bottom oven rack. Preheat oven to 400*. Bake loaves for 20-25 minutes. Remove to wire racks.

YIELD: 2 loaves (16 loaves each)
There are 18 points per loaf so about 1 point per serving.

This is Isaac's preferred birthday treat. It isn't cheap to make, however! The recipe calls for Heath candy bars (8-10 of them), but I used a bag of miniature Hershey kisses this time. YUMMY!

Death by Chocolate Punch Bowl Cake

1 chocolate cake mix and eggs/oil needed to make it
2 large boxes instant Jello chocolate pudding (the ones that use 3 c. of milk to make each mix)
2 large containers cool whip (1 2/3 to make it and some for garnish)
Candy bars of choice - chopped (save some for garnish)

Bake chocolate cake according to package directions. Cool and cut into small squares.

Mix both packages of pudding according to package directions.

Thaw Cool Whip (I didn't do that UGH).

In a punch bowl, layer 1/2 of the cake cubes, 1/2 of the pudding, 1/2 of the chopped candy bars, about 3/4 of the large container of CW. Repeat layers, ending with Cool Whip.

I put the extra cool whip into a pastry bag with a large star tip, make rosettes around the bowl - spaced apart, about 10 rosettes, and place pieces of candy between the rosettes.

Refrigerate.

Oh, I've also grated chocolate over the top.

This was really good! Two of my three kids liked it also. So it's a keeper!

Mexican Lasagna

1 lb. lean ground round
16 oz. can fat-free refried beans
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. ground cumin
3/4 tsp. garlic power (I used 2 cloves, minced)
9 uncooked lasagna noodles (whole wheat)
16 oz. salsa
2 c. water
16 oz. reduced-fat sour cream
1 can (2 1/4 oz) sliced ripe olives, drained
4 oz. shredded 2% sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 c. thinly sliced green onion

In a nonstick skillet, cook beef (and garlic if using fresh) over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add the refried beans, oregano, and garlic powder (if NOT using fresh); heat through.

Place three noodles in a 9 x 13 pan sprayed with oil; cover with half of the meat mixture. Repeat layers. Top with remaining noodles. Combine salsa and water; pour over noodles.

Cover and bake at 350* for 60-70 minutes or until noodles are tender. Spread with sour cream. Sprinkle with olives, cheese and onions.

YIELD: 9 servings
1 serving = 7 WW points

Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins

3/4 c. oatmeal
1/4 c. wheat germ (I used toasted)
1 1/2 c. flour (I use soft white whole wheat)
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. chopped walnuts (I omitted those)
1/2 tsp. salt
1T baking powder
3/4 c. fat free milk
1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
1 c. blueberries (I used frozen)

1/3 c. old-fashioned oats
1/4 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400* F. Lightly great 12 muffin cups.

In a large bowl, mix 3/4 c. oats, wheat germ, flour, sugar, walnuts, salt and baking powder. Stir in the milk, applesauce and egg just until dry ingredients are evenly moist. Fold in the blueberries. Scoop batter into the prepared muffin cups.

Mix 1/3 c. oats, brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Divide evenly over tops of muffins.

Bake 20 min. or until knife inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.

YIELD: 12 muffins
3 WW points each without nuts

Lower Fat Banana Bread

2 eggs
2/3 c. white sugar (sucanat)
2 very ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce
1/3 c. skim milk
1 T vegetable oil
1T vanilla
1 3/4 c. flour (ww pastry works really well)
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
It doesn't call for spices, but I like mine spicey. So I just dump in some Pamp. Chef cinnamon plus, which would be equivalent to pumpkin pie spice.

Preheat oven to 325*F. Spray loaf pans with oil.

In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Stir in bananas, applesauce, milk, oil and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, sift toegher flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir flour mixture into banana mixture, mixing just until blended. Pour batter into pans.

Bake in preheated oven until golden and a toothpick inserted into the center of loaf comes out clean, about 1 hour. Turn bread out onto a wire rack and let cool.

12 servings: 3 ww points per serving

My kids don't like walnuts in it, but I do. Although I don't like the extra fat and calories from the nuts. So sometimes I sprinkle whole walnuts on top of the bread before baking. They come out yummy and toasted and the kids can pick them off.