Goodwill Book Score

All these little goodies for $16.94. 

Taste of the World - 274 Easy Multi-Cultural Recipes

Such a little book full of delicious looking recipes.

Page 114 White Cheese Chicken Lasagna. I was sold

The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck, M.D.

Can't believe I've never read this gem.

365 Easy Mexican Recipes

I collect cookbooks but they have to have picture. Don't know why, I guess I just like to see the food before I make it. This book doesn't have one picture in it. Even the cover photo is a drawing. So why would I buy it? Because I love Mexican food and while I was flipping through it every title sounded delish. Chicken Breasts in Creamy Pumpkin Seed Sauce. Grilled Flank Steak with Chili-Corn Sauce. Muy Pronto Cooked Green Sauce (Jason loves green sauce and this recipe looks so easy.) 

Yes, Yes, Yes!

Rachel Ray 30-Minute Get Real Meals

Eating Healthy Without Going To Extremes. For $1.99 I thought I'd check it out. 

The 3 Hour Diet By Jorge Cruise

I also collect diet books. I know weird. I always learn something new so I continue to collect them.

I like Jorge so I've added this one to my collection.

Breakthrough by Suzanne Somers

Eight Steps To Wellness - Life Altering Secrets from Today's Cutting Edge Doctors.

Only Eight? 

Natural Cures "They Don't Want You To Know About by Kevin Trudeau

The updated edition. Includes the natural cures for more than 50 specific diseases.

This should be a good read. 

The Ultimate Weight Solution - The 7 Keys to Weight Loss Freedom by Dr. Phil McGraw

and the collection grows.

Wine and Cheese Party Ideas

DIY Sea Glass and Gold Leaf Food Labels 

Not only do I love the DIY Labels I also love the arrangement. The rosemary and blackberries are a perfect replacement for the same ole grapes that usually accompany cheese plates.

  How to and several more photos: The Knotty Bride. 

DIY Chalkboard Wine Glasses

Tutorial: Just Short of Crazy

Wine and Cheese Tables

Photo: Providence Design

Recipes

Fig and Goat Cheese Bruschetta

Homemade Cheese Straws

Mini Tartlets

The Invite

ASPaperie

Sweet Balsamic Tomato Bruschetta & Caramelized Onion and Pepper Bruschetta

This is one of my recipes from SkinnyStove.com. I've been craving the Sweet Balsamic Tomato Bruschetta for the last couple of days. Yesterday I went to our local farmers market and I got what I needed to whip this up. So fresh and so good.


Sweet Balsamic Tomato Bruschetta

Ingredients

1 1/2 – 2 Plum Tomato, chopped
1 Garlic Clove, minced
2 Tsp Olive Oil, 1 tsp for bruschetta dressing and 1 for the baguette slices
1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
1/2 tsp Honey
1/8 tsp Salt
1/8 tsp Black Pepper
1/2 Multi Grain Baguette, cut into 16 slices

Directions

Place the first seven ingredients in a bowl. Stir to coat and set in refrigerator to marinate.

Heat a grill pan over medium high heat. Take the baguette slices and brush with olive oil on both sides and place on a heated pan. Once grill marks are made turn over bread over to grill the other side. Remove once that side has grill marks.

Place a scoop of the tomato mixture onto each slice of bread and enjoy.

Serving Size: 16

Nutrition Info

• Calories: 25.2
• Fat: 0.8g
• Carbohydrates: 3.9g
• Protein: 0.7g

Caramelized Onion and Pepper Bruschetta

Ingredients

3 Sweet Mini Peppers, sliced
1/2 Onions, sliced
2 Tsp Olive Oil, (1 tsp for the grilling of the peppers and onions and the other for the baguette slices)
1/2 Multi grain Baguette, cut into 16 slices
1/2 cup Farmers Cheese

* Optional seasoning to season the farmers cheese.
Trader Joe’s 21 salute
Onion and/or garlic powder
salt and pepper

Directions

In a fry pan heat 1 tsp of the olive oil. Add sliced peppers and onion. Cooked until soft and translucent. Remove from heat and set aside.

Heat a grill pan over medium high heat. Take the baguette slices and brush with olive oil on both sides and place on a heated pan. Once grill marks are made turn over bread over to grill the other side. Remove once that side has grill marks.

If you want to season your farmers cheese do so now.

Add 1/2 tbsp of farmers cheese to each toasted baguette slices and then top with the caramelized onions and peppers. Place under a broiler or a toaster over for a few minutes.

Serving Size: 16

Nutrition Info

• Calories: 41.1
• Fat: 1.8g
• Carbohydrates: 4.7g
• Protein: 1.5g

And of course I enjoyed these little bites of heaven with one of my favorite wines from Newsome-Harlow.

The Plan (Diet) by Lyn-Genet Recitas

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Lyn-Genet Recitas author of The Plan says that Greek yogurt, asparagus, and many other "healthy foods" may be causing me to gain weight. My first thought was, What? Second thought, that's why I'm not losing weight even though I'm doing everything I've been told.

Before I bought the book I did my homework.

This First magazine article explains the plan in great detail. It's a good start.

Lyn Genet's website also has a ton of information. If you sign up for her newsletter you will see links to old newsletters and receive new ones with a lot of good nuggets.

There are also some groups and forums out there where you can see what others are saying about "The Plan". These are the two I've learned a lot from.

The Plan Forum

Sparkpeople "The Plan" Group

So when I was done doing my research guess who ran out and got the book?  OK, I didn't run out, I ran to my phone and bought it on Kindle. I probably could have attempted this without the book but I really don't like going into things not fully educated. I don't want to waste my time with something that I may mess up on because I didn't arm myself with the correct information and the right tools.  

I did however do the yeast test before I got the book. I figured if I needed to take the probiotics for a week before I could start "The Plan", then I wanted to get it started. 

On Sunday I spent the day drinking beer (it was Superbowl Sunday after all) and Sunday night eating chocolate. The next day I did have some white coating on my tongue. Not a lot but enough to not want to take any chances. Can I tell you it was not easy finding probiotics with 30 - 50 billion live cultures? I found several with 1 billion and even a few with 10 billion. I finally found one with 30 so I got it. Found it at Rite Aid for $24.99.

I started taking these yesterday so I will be starting "The Plan" on Monday. This is perfect. I'll have enough time to read the book. This week I'll create my shopping list. I'll post it when I'm done. On Sunday morning I'll do my shopping and the first three days prep work. And then on Wednesday, I'll do the shopping and prep work for the next five days, and then so on. Here's a guideline for day 1 - 20.

From reading the boards and forums it sounds like The first three days are very time-consuming if you don't prep. I want to make this as easy as possible. I don't want to have any excuses for not following through.