NEGATIVE CALORIES...YOU WISH!

TRIPPIN' THURSDAY

In everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose...in our latest season, with only a vague plan and a touch of creativity, we're off on another adventure. Half of this twosome is retired; my half will probably never know what that means. I promise to share.

Hate to disappoint, but no travels out of the ordinary this week. I did spend two days at the Chocolate Affaire (sold a bunch of books), but the intake of food is sending me off in another direction today. No eye-opening ways to save $$$ either, but a dessert that is not costly and will have your guests drooling.

I just want to talk food. Argh...whenever I want to lose weight, all I can think about is food.  What I really need is more exercise, and I've made a commitment to myself which I won't share. Announcing my new routine makes it more of a chore, and I want it to be more of a lifestyle. Oh so chic.

So, back to food. I've heard of negative calorie food. Celery supposedly takes more calories to digest than it has. Well, probably not. I took five minutes and did a little research. I think you can find anything on the Internet you want to back your beliefs. I'm going with this one! I did find a list of foods, low enough in calories compared to calories expended digesting them, that is a plus. I'm going to try a couple of weeks eating these foods:
celery
asparagus
cauliflower
tomatoes
papaya
chili peppers
apples
black coffee (okay, this one may not happen...I love my flavored creamer)
very lean meat like turkey and chicken

My friend Nancy Dow and me at the Chocolate Affaire.

Do you know about the crock pot dessert that is to die for? I might have given you this before but since I tried it myself yesterday, I have to repeat. This is one of the many foods I've had over the last few days that sent me in search of some food to lose weight. I had a delicious week of tasty tacos, spaghetti, fried potatoes, and chocolate treats at the Chocolate Affaire. And the below dessert. This is so scrumptious!

In a crock pot, layer the following ( a single layer of each):
Two cans of apple pie filling
One box of spice cake mix
Two sticks of butter (yeah, just plop on top)
Cook for 2 1/2 hours on high

So yummy! Not to be repeated for at least a month.

Wish me luck on that list of foods and my desire to lose a few pounds. I'm sure if I eat only those foods, my glass of wine with dinner and snifter of brandy at bedtime when I read will not be a problem! Right?

Four Directions; Much of the Same

 Tortuga Thursday 

In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.

No real edition of Tortuga Thursday today. Our week since last Thursday was filled with much of the same as the week before.

Today we're each going our different directions. Lance is getting in his last days of bow hunting. Christie is minding the farm and Sadi. Frank is headed to the lake. He'll man the Prescott Farmers' Market solo on Saturday. I am out the door to Phoenix for the Chocolate Affaire which is actually in Glendale. One of my author groups will have a booth, and we'll be signing books.

The Chocolate Affaire is normally an event close to Valentine's Day for all things chocolate and romantic. With the Super Bowl in Glendale this year, the city moved the event to the two days before the Super Bowl game. I think they're trying to capitalize on the expected crowds in the city. Rain is forecast for both days. Hmmm...hope the out-of-towners are not as skittish about rain as Phoenicians. Wish me luck.