's motd Fri Aug 8, 2008

[Guest guest]

MASHED POTATOES

Friday, 08 August 2008

There are a couple of foods I hadn't had in a long time. Yes, I would call them "comfort foods" and I used to eat them oh-so very often. And to tell you the truth, I've eaten one of my favorite comfort foods everyday for the last few days. I'm not kidding! I've just had the urge to have that particular food.

I certainly couldn't have these fave foods while I dining out in a restaurant. So I decided to make these comfort foods, right at home! Now, can you say...mashed potatoes!I took one medium potato, peeled and cut it into cubes. I then tossed the potato cubes into boiling water and let them boil until they were rather soft. Once they were soft enough to my liking, l took the potato, whipped it up with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, a little fat-free milk and dashes of salt and pepper. Oh, I whipped and whipped until they looked like my hair!And there they were, ready for the eatin'! I took about half the mashed potatoes, placed them in a bowl, added some finely chopped parsley and sun-dried tomatoes. What can I tell you? I was in mashed potato heaven! I used the smallest teaspoon in the house to eat them so I could make my mashed potato masterpiece last as long as possible. And yes, I scraped the bowl down to the very last morsel. Hattie and Dolly watched as I ate but I did not share my jackpot with them. (They'd already had their dinner.)

Oh, I can close my eyes and taste those mashed potatoes right now. And hey, as good as they were, they really didn't contain a lot of calories and fat grams. But I wasn't done with making my comfort foods. The next day, I made Fettuchini Alfredo. I know, you're thinking I just went nuts, huh? But trust me, I didn't.I boiled my noodles, then rinsed them well. Next, in a sauce pan, I added some fat-free milk, a little powdered milk, a few teaspoons of grated parmesan cheese, a pinch of salt, pepper and nutmeg. Once the sauce came to a light boil and began to thicken, I added the cooked noodles. I swirled the noodles around in the sauce for about 30 seconds then put them in the same bowl I had my mashed potatoes in the night before. I then topped them with dried chili flakes and finely chopped fresh chives. Mmm-m-m, I used my fork and enjoyed them, one noodle at a time.I can't tell you how delicious it was. Fettuchini Alfredo always leaves me speechless. And when you look at the way I made this dish, you'll note that I made it without adding lots of calories and fat grams, just like I'd done with my mashed potatoes.

I'm sharing my cooking techniques with you because, like many of you, I am also a compulsive eater. But in spite of that, for all of these years, I've worked really hard to maintain my health and weight. And I do it by not abusing my body with the foods I like to eat anymore.Yep, I get cravings, just like you do. I just plan them wisely. See, you can have mashed potatoes or whatever else you want. You've just got to watch those portion sizes and use the right ingredients when you make them. Before I make a comfort food, I always look in my FoodMover and close the appropriate windows I need for that delicious dish I'm about to make.Okay, I'm sorry if I made you hungry! Oh, how I wish you were in town tonight. I'd serve you a risotto dish with poached chicken and fresh asparagus. It's so good!Enjoy your meals this weekend. And if you're yearning for a comfort food, just be sure to use the right ingredients when you prepare it. And make sure it's the right portion size for yourself, too!Love,

[Guest guest]

> Is/are sun-dried tomatoes something you buy like in a jar at the

grocery

> store?

> I don't mean to be stoopid, but I have never looked to buy any LOL!!

Yes and no. There are dry sun-dried tomatoes that can usually be found

either in containers or bulk bins in the produce aisle, or packed in oil

in tiny jars in the pickle aisle.. I always buy the dry ones and usually

just toss them into stews or soups as-is, unless a recipe specifies

plumping them up in boiling water first.

One way I love them is in pizza dough. I take 4 to 6 of them and a pair

of kitchen scissors, cut them up in tiny pieces, maybe 1/4 inch the

largest, and at the fruit and nut beep in my bread machine drop them

into the pizza dough as it's kneading. Yummy!

Sue in NJ