I’m having fun learning with my Patio Garden.  I’m currently enjoy fresh leaf lettue and watching my transplanted Celery grow.

If you want veggies without the garden upkeep, try using containers | Yakima Herald-Republic.

Please share your thoughts and comments.

You will be amazed in how many plants you can grow in Containers.

66 Things You Can Grow In Containers

Ever want something hot and filling on a cold Winter day? I did, so I created this recipe.


Ingredients:
= 1 can of Broth, either Beef, Chicken, or Vegetable. Look for lower Sodium. I choose Swanson Reduced Sodium Beef Broth 100% Fat Free, 50% less Sodium) and it was 440 mg, 18% of Daily Value.
= 1 medium Onion chopped.
= 2 C of Celery. This is a good use of the outer Celery that in not suitable to eat raw. Good nutrition and a waste to throw away.
= 1 Scoop of the Vanilla Appetizer Diet® Shake.
= Coarse Black Pepper.
= Chopped Kale.
= 2 TBS of Whole Wheat Flour or other thickener.


Instructions:
= Simmer the Celery and Onions in the Broth. I prefer to cook it just about 3 minutes. The more you cook it, the more nutrients you lose.
= Puree the Broth and Vegetables in a Blender until smooth.
= Return the Pureed mix to the Sauce Pan and add the Whole Wheat Flour to thicken the soup.
= Add the Vanilla Appetizer Diet® Shake.
= Add Coarse Black Pepper.
= Garnish with Chopped Kale= Makes 2 servings.

Option:
= Make 2 Meal Replacements: This Celery Soup and a Desert type.
= Have ½ of the Celery Soup and ½ of the Desert type.

Note: To make this a total Meal Replacement, add either a Diet Appetizer Chocolate Chip or Oatmeal Raisin cookie.

Cost of this Meal Replacement is about $3.50.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Guacamole is a favorite and a perfect way to get plenty of vegetables.

Ingredients:
= 2 medium Avocados.
= 1 Scoop of Appetizer Diet Vanilla shake.
= A packet of Guacamole Seasoning Mix.  I chose McCormick’s.
= 1 T of Lemon juice.
= 1 to 1 1/2 C of chopped Vegetables and/or Healthy Fats.  I chose Celery, Onion, and Green Bell Pepper and Black Olives.  
= I added 1/4 tsp of ground Cloves.
= Raw Vegetables for dipping.  I chose Celery, Carrots, and Green Bell Peppers.

Directions:
= Scoop out the Avocado meat.
= Add the Vanillia shake mix, Guacamole Seasoning Mix and
Ground Cloves.
= Blend with your mixer until smooth.
= Add the chopped Vegetables and Black Olives.
= Serve with Vegetable Slices of Celery, Carrots, and Green Bell Peppers.

Here’s your opportunity to be creative and add whatever ingredients you like or have on hand.  Additional choices are:
= For Chopped Vegetables: Carrots, Red/Yellow/Orange Bell Peppers, Hot Peppers, Jicima, Tomatoes, Kale, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Red Onions, Green Onions, Green Peas, and Green Beans
= For Healthy Fats:  Flax Seeds.
= For Spices:  Garlic, Chile Powder, Curry, Cayenne Powder, etc.
= For Dipping Vegetables:  Cucumber slices, Jicima, Broccoli, etc.

Notes:
= To make this a total Meal Replacement, add either a Diet Appetizer Chocolate Chip or Oatmeal Raisin cookie with the Guacamole or later.
= Take as a Brown Bag Lunch to work. Enjoy 1/2 for Lunch and 1/2 for Break.

Cost of this meal is around $3.50.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Avocados are a great source of Healthy Fat and have a special delicate flavor of their own.

Ingredients:
= meat of 1 medium Avocado.
= 1 medium Orange or Grapefruit or Green Apple or fruit of your choice.
= 1 Scoop of Appetizer Diet Shake – Vanilla.
= garnish – optional.

Instructions:
= I’ve developed an appetite for Orange rinds. It relates back to my childhood years. We kids liked to sit on the front porch, pretend we were Monkeys, and eat whole Oranges just like Monkeys.
= blend until smooth and creamy.
= garnish as desired. I used Orange slices and parsley. A long stalk of celery topped with leaves looks attractive.

Notes: 
= Take to work in a Thermos.
=  add either a Diet Appetizer Chocolate Chip or Diet Appetizer Oatmeal Raisin cookie now or later to make a complete Meal Replacement.

Cost of this meal replacement is about $3.50.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Chocolate Banana Kale Ice Cream and a Cookie

 Have you ever been told that if you wish to lose weight, you can never indulge in Ice Cream and Cookies and especially not in the Evening?  

Well, I’m not fond of Deprivation.  With this recipe, I can enjoy a large bowl of Ice Cream and Cookies anytime I please and without the guilt.

Here are 2 versions:

1. Thicker Ice Cream that takes a few extra steps.
2. Quicker method and not quite as thick.

1. Two Step Method

• Blend 1 Scoop of Chocolate Appetizer Diet Shake,  1 cup of water, and half of a Banana that I sliced and froze until smooth.
• Pour 2/3 of the mixture into ice cube trays and freeze.
• Refrigerate 1/3 of the mixture in the refrigerator.
• When the cubes are frozen, add a few of them at a time to the shake in your blender.
• Start with a slow speed and increase gradually. You may need to stop your blender and push the cubes down.  
• Be patient. Your reward is a large bowl of Ice Cream.

2.  Quicker Method

• Blend 1 Scoop of Chocolate Appetizer Diet Shake, 1/2 cup of water, and half of a Banana that I sliced and froze until smooth.
• Add ice cubes a couple at a time.  Start with a slow speed and increase gradually. You may need to stop your blender and push the cubes down.   Stop adding ice cubes when you have the consistency you want.
• Be patient. Your reward is a large bowl of soft Ice Cream. 

Note: To make this a total Meal Replacement, add either a Diet Appetizer Chocolate Chip or Oatmeal Raisin cookie. For a special treat, microwave your cookie for about 15 seconds.

Cost of this meal is around $3.50.  You can’t buy an unhealthy Fast Food meal for that.

For a earlier version of this recipe, click here.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Most people would like to lose some lbs.
Most diets help us lose weight, but the weight just comes back.

Would it be OK if I shared with you how I got rid of 60 lbs and kept it off for over 4 yrs and even saved money on my Grocery Bill?

How is this diet different?

= I did not have to make drastic changes. I do not spend hours in the Kitchen measuring and cooking anymore. The recipes for the Replacement Meals are quick and easy to prepare.

= I simply replace one meal per day with a quick, healthy, economical, and delicious Replacement Meal. I receive one new creative recipe per week using the Healthy Shakes and Cookie, such as these:
=== Rich Hot Chocolate
=== Apple Spice Latte
=== Rich Chocolate Caffe Mocha
=== Chocolate Almond Pudding with Cookie Crumble
=== Creamy Chai Tea Latte
=== Avocado and Orange Shake

= I do not feel deprived. The Replacement Meals are delicious and I am not hungry for 3-4 hours.

= I save money on my Grocery Bill.

= The cost per Replacement Meal is about $3.50; I cannot buy a fast food meal for that.

To learn more about this plan, click here.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

I’m growing a Garden on my Patio. This is a new challenge for me. I’ve never been able to grow healthy plants before. I have absolutely no Green on my Thumb.I bought some seeds – Turnips, Lettuce, and Chives.

I’m determined to learn how to grow vegetables that are free of pesticides and economical. I’ll be able to add some healthy pesticide free produce to my meals and save on my food bill.

I made some little valleys in the soil and planted the seeds.  I hung the pots on my Patio.  Here’s what my Patio looks on the 1st Day, April 10, 2012.

It is fun to visit my Patio Garden each day. I spray them with a fresh drink of water and ask them how they are doing.

On the 23rd Day, May 3rd, I clipped some leaves to enjoy on my salad.

I am enjoying my beautified Patio Garden and the tasty,and economical nutrition it adds to my meals.