There was wine, laughing, & cheesecake!

Last night we had some friends over for dinner who by the way: have a brand new baby boy only 7 weeks old, he was just darling, slept most of the time, but adorable. I made dinner.. stuffed mannicotti, ceaser salad, parm breadsticks, and I made a mint chocolate cheesecake... I have never made this before but it turned out A.....(wait for it) ..... MAZING!

So here is the recipe.. it is from the pampered chef holiday dessert book

Creme de Menthe Cheesecake
Ingredients:
Crust and Filling
14-16 creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookies (1 1/4 cups/300 mL finely crushed)
4 pkg (8 oz or 250 g) cream cheese, softened
1 cup (250 mL) sugar
4 tbsp (60 mL) all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 tss (2 mL) Double-Strength Vanilla
4 eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup (125 mL) sour cream
8-12 drops green food coloring (optional)
2 pkg (4.67 oz each) crème de menthe chocolate candies, unwrapped, divided (about 56 candies total)
Topping
3/4 cup (175 mL) semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1 1/2 cups (375 mL) thawed frozen whipped topping
7 crème de menthe chocolate candies (reserved from filling)
Directions:
1.
Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). For crust, lightly spray sides of Springform Pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line sides of pan with two 3 x 15-in. (7.5 x 38-cm) pieces of Parchment Paper. Press cookie crumbs onto bottom and slightly up sides of pan. Bake 8 minutes. Remove pan from oven to Stackable Cooling Rack.
2.
For filling, place cream cheese, sugar, 3 tbsp (45 mL) of the flour and vanilla into Stainless (4-qt./4-L) Mixing Bowl; beat on medium speed of electric hand mixer 3 minutes or until well blended. Add eggs; mix on low speed 2 minutes. Add sour cream and food coloring, if desired; mix until smooth.
3.
Set aside seven of the candies for topping. Cut remaining candies in half crosswise and toss with remaining 1 tbsp (15 mL) flour. Pour half of the filling into crust. Arrange candies, slightly overlapping, over filling; gently spoon remaining filling on top. Bake 55-60 minutes or until center appears nearly set when gently shaken (center will firm as it cools). Remove from oven to cooling rack; cool completely, about 3 hours.
4.
For topping, place chocolate morsels, whipped topping and reserved candies into Small Micro-Cooker®. Microwave on HIGH 1 1/2-2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring after each 30-second interval. Spread topping over center of cheesecake using Small Spreader. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
Yield: 16 servings

Following with my recent trend here is teh schedule for the day

TO DO:
target/rite aid-cosmetics, toiletries
Post office
cleaning: spare bedroom & office

GYM:
4-5 Miles
Ab work

Dinner:
(just me tonight) grilled cheese

HERO'S

To those who fought and returned, and to those who didn't, to those who served and to those who will, nomatter if you just signed up yesterday or have been serving all of your life, to the spouses who are patiently waiting for there hero's to return, raising children on their own, and sleeping alone at night, to the parents who celebrate this day as a memory of a life that was lost, to the Men & Women who sacrifice everyday, for americans they have never even met, and for myself that I can sleep in peace.... TO ALL OF YOU I SAY THANK YOU!

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again. Who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause. Who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. — Theodore Roosevelt, The Man in the Arena

11-10-09

Goodmorning! Yesterday went well, minus the running glitch, and I liked knowing I was sticking to a plan so again today I will be following a schedule!

11-10-09

Clean Kitchen including floors

Make a Christmas shopping list

grocery store to purchase items for the dessert I am making this week for dinner parties

GYM: Ab work

Dinner

Meatball Casserole*

Salad

Ingredients
1 pkg. (120 g) STOVE TOP Lower Sodium Stuffing Mix for Chicken
1 can (10 fl oz/284 mL) low fat condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/4 cup milk
1 pkg. (320 g) frozen meatballs
2 cups frozen peas or 1 cup frozen peas and 1 cup frozen corn niblets
1 cup shredded CRACKER BARREL Cheddar Cheese Light - Made with 2% MilkDirections

Preheat oven to 400ºF.

Prepare stuffing mix as directed on package; set aside.
Combine soup and milk in 13 x 9 inch baking dish. Stir in meatballs and peas; sprinkle with cheese. Top with the prepared stuffing.
Bake for 30 minutes or until heated through.
Variation:
Prepare as directed, substituting 1 can (19 fl oz/540 mL) diced tomatoes for the soup, omitting milk and using Italian-flavoured meatballs and Kraft 4 Cheese Italiano Shredded Cheese.
Recipe is Compliments of Kraft

Running Fail...

Went to the gym today with a plan to run 5 miles however, I was in a rush to get there since I had to go to Verizon (and wait an hour till they called my name) to fix my phone. Walked out in my old pair of shoes not my running shoes.

Tried to run in them but at 3 miles my feet were killing me, so I switched and did the equivelent of a mile on the ellliptical then did abs..... O well I will try again for my 5 miler tomorrow or wednesday

"going to the chapel"

My friend/co-worker Megan over at Sunshinemeg's blog is getting married THIS WEEKEND!!!!!! I remember the week before my wedding, hardly able to think anything other then wedding related information. Stop on over at her BLOG and leave a wedding wish!

Today's plan

To make life a bit easier I have been planning out each day ahead of time, with the things that must get done, that way they all don't pile up at the end of the week.

MONDAY!

Clean Bathroom
Do Budget

GYM- 5 Mile run, Ab work

Dinner-
Sour Chicken*
Sauteed Green Beans

*Sour Chicken Casserole
1-2 med. sized chicken breasts, cook, cool & debone
Salt & pepper
1 can reduced fat cream of chicken soup
8 oz. Fat Free sour cream
2 Cups cooked chopped broccoli
1/2 stick butter
20 Ritz crackers
Chicken broth

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place bite-size pieces of chicken mixed with broccoli in 9 x 13 inch casserole dish. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix in separate bowl, soup and sour cream. Add enough chicken broth to thin the mixture. Pour over chicken/broccoli mixture. Melt butter. Crush Ritz crackers combining with melted butter. Pour on top of casserole. Bake approximately 30 minutes.

on my way to 13.1

I did it! I made it through my long run of the week 7.25 miles. It was hard but I did it! My feet are covered in blisters, and they hurt but thts o.k. However I gained a pound this week, and I ran more this week then I ever have.. which I think is causing me to gain more carbs for energy so I have been researching protein bars to take to the gym.

I can't gain weight after how hard I worked to loose over 30 pounds this year if you have any suggestions I'm all ears....

Workin it!

I have not really talked much about my workout routine theese days, however my running has really picked up.
Here is what this week looked like....
Sunday-Ran 5 miles, abs, and arms
Monday-Ran 5 miles & abs
Tuesday-Just abs & Legs
Wednesday-Ran 6.5 miles
Thursday-Ran 3 miles lots of abs
Friday-OFF
tomorrow I'm planning for my big run of the week 7 miles.

Closet Sale!

Thats right Ladies, a closet sale! as in from my closet to yours! we all love consignment stores which is where these clothes were headed but then I remembered seeing something like this on MrsNewlyweds site and though it would be fun! All prices include shipping. If you are interested please e-mail me at mrsstethoscope@live.com or leave me a comment.

American Eagle shirt Size Large $10 Worn Once
Ann Taylor Loft Size Medium $8 Worn about 3 times

New York & company Stretch black dress pants Size Small Tall $10 Good Condition

Aeropostale Jeans Chelsea Bootcut 5/6 Long $10
Worn once

Mode black blazer Size Large $6 Don't think I ever wore it

LUCKY BRAND Size 4/27 bootcut $50 Excellent condition

Same LUCKY BRAND jeans

Just a thought!

Let God's promises shine on your problems. ~Corrie Ten Boom

Holiday Sleeve

This is how you know Christmas is right around the corner!

Not 4, not 5, but 6!!!!

Thats right for the first time ever I ran 6 miles!!!!!!!! I am so proud of myself, I never really thought that I could do it but I did! I tend to break through my mental running wall somewhere around 1.25 miles and tonight as soon as I did it was all smiles from there. I'm sure everyone else in the gym was wondering why i kept grinning the whole run. It was tough and a couple times I thought well I will just stop now and try for 6 again tomorrow but I did it, so that tells me if I can do 6 then why not 7 and for that matter I'm sure I could totally do 13.1!!!!!!!!

O Seven..

O how I would love this pair of Seven (for all mankind) jeans, however with a pricetag of $245 I think I will keep looking on ebay

Happy Friday!

Enjoy your weekend!

Calling all vacation planners

My husband and I have been deciding where to plan our next va-kay to. Here are a few of the places we have talked about.

Vegas
Miami
Martha's Vineyard
Boston
Italy-but I don't see that happeneing.

Here is where you come in, what do you know about planning, I never do well with planning trips I always end up never getting any good deals.