Psalm 147:3-5  “He (God) heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.  He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.  Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.”

We drank a lot of hot chocolate during the holidays, mainly for two reasons:  it was very cold plus I was getting over a respiratory infection and hot drinks helped my congestion a lot.  I found out there are a lot of calories in some hot chocolate mixes which I’m sure helped me to gain weight, although I don’t need weight loss pills.  My husband bought some hot chocolate and I bought some, too, and so I decided to compare the “Nutritional Facts.”  This is what I found:

• Nestle Rich Chocolate – 80 calories, 3 grams fat, 15 g carbs, 12 g sugar
• Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate – 120 calories, 2 g fat, 23 g carbs, 16 g sugar
• Swiss Miss Dark Cholcolate – 150 calories, 3.5 g fat, 26 g carbs, 20 g sugar

It’s easy to see which brand of hot chocolate I’m drinking now that I’m trying to lose the weight I gained during the holidays:  Nestle Rich Chocolate!  (There are sugar-free mixes out there, but my doctor told me to stay away from sugar substitutes as much as possible.)

Charlie Gibson talks about his dish for Enchilada Casserole being the most requested recipe in the history of Good Morning America in this clip with Rachael Ray. This recipe is a favorite of the Gibsons, and he first shared this recipe on “Good Morning America” during the 2002 Family Cook-Off Series.   Now it is a favorite of many viewers.

One time, though, Emeril Lagasse intimated that Gibson stole the recipe from him. To keep the record straight, Gibson informed Emeril in an ABC Blog Entry that this recipe was given to the Gibsons 20 years ago by a family friend, Mary Corkran.

Here’s the famous recipe most requested by GMA viewers:

INGREDIENTS:

• 13 ounce package of Doritoes (save 2 cups for topping)
• 10 ounce can of chili with beans
• 10-15 ounce can of enchilada sauce
• 8 ounce can tomato sauce
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (save 1/2 cup for topping) (try reduced fat cheese)
  
• 2 tablespoons grated onion
• 1 1/4 cups sour cream (I would try reduced fat or fat-free)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a large bowl, crumble 6 cups of Doritoes.  Add the chili, both sauces, 1 1/2 cups cheese (remember to save 1/2 cup), and the onion to the crumbled Doritoes.  Stir gently.   Pour into an 8 1/2 x 11 inch casserole dish.  Bake for 20 minutes.

Remove from oven and spread sour cream on top.  Top with remaining 2 cups of crumbled Doritoes.   Then sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese.  Bake for 5 more minutes.

Well, I did it!  I gained my usual several pounds during the holidays!  Ugh!  My pants are fitting tighter in the waist and I do not like the feel of that.  I won’t be reading fat burner reviews, but I will be trying to eat less. Hmm…the hard part is all of this dark chocolate we have here at the house. Actually, dark chocolate is good for us, only we don’t need much per day. I need to measure out how much I can eat in a little dish and limit myself to that amount per day. OK, I have a plan for the chocolate!

Val, From Val’s Kitchen, writes, “Hi all! Happy New Year!

Here’s this week’s questions.”

1. Do you have any food related New Years resolutions?
Yes, to go back to eating healthier foods all the time now that the holidays are over.
2. What’s one thing you’d like to learn how to make from scratch this year?
Pie crust like my mother used to make it. (thin, delicate, and flakey)
3. What’s the most unusual thing in your cabinet, refrigerator or freezer right now?
In a front corner of one cabinet, I have one little peanut shell, with the peanuts still in it, that is over a decade old (maybe 12 years old). Our son gave it to me, and now I can’t remember what he said, only that it was said in such a sweet way that it melted my heart. I didn’t mean to keep it this long but…it’s not in the way.

4. What kind of can opener do you have?

I have a hand-held can opener.  When we got married, we received an electric can opener which we used for years.  Finally, it quit working.  I started using my hand-held can opener until I got one to replace it and decided I liked my hand-held one better.  I never did replace the electric one.  The hand-held opener doesn’t take up any room on the counter, it’s convenient to clean after each use, and I can easily open the tallest can with it.

It is chilly here today in north central Texas.  I am ready for some warmer weather, but I think it’s chilly everywhere in the states, even at the north myrtle beach hotels.  Of course, it is winter and we’re supposed to have cold weather in the winter.  But I’m used to having some nice days in the 60′s here in Texas, and I’m ready for a few of those days!

Here’s where you can get a $1 coupon off one box of South Beach Bars. It’s the beginning of a new year and time for many of us who made a New Year’s resolution to lose the weight we gained during the holidays to get serious about what we eat. South Beach Bars are great for this, and in fact, I believe Weight Watchers endorses them. The great thing is that they are high in fiber, containing 9 grams of fiber, yet they don’t taste like it.   My favorite is the Oats & Chocolate!  What’s your favorite?

(I have not been compensated for this post in any way.  This is strictly my opinion.)