Dr Oz's New Year Diet Plan

<<< Nope - not me

Okay, so if you start Dr Oz's two week diet plan, you probably aren't going to find (so far) many recipes here that exclude the bad (but yummy) stuff, like trans fats, saturated fats, white flour, simple sugars or syrups... but I am going to give Dr Oz's diet plan a try and try to do my body and organs a favor by eliminating the evil foods. Will I cheat? Heck yes! But as Dr Oz says, it is okay to cheat from time to time. So, wish me luck. I'm beginning this diet immediately... tonight, instead of ice cream, I am having a rice cake with natural peanut butter and raisins. I have no problem with rice cakes - not really.
In a few days I will post a couple recipes that abide by Dr Oz and his diet plan. In the meantime, see my article about Doctor Oz's two week diet plan. 

Cream Cheese Shrimp Ball

Love shrimp?

Serve  this cream cheese shrimp ball, a little on the Cajun side, with assorted crackers at your holiday party. If you prefer, roll the mixture with walnuts or pecans instead of toasted sesame seeds.

• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup minced garlic
• 1 small red onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 1/4 pounds uncooked shrimp, peeled and cut into small pieces
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke flavoring
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/2 cup toasted sesame seeds

Directions

In a large skillet, melt the butter. Add to the melted butter the garlic, onion, cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes; cook and stir until the onion has softened, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the shrimp and cook until shrimp is no loner transparent, about 5 minutes. Remove mixture from heat and drain excess; set aside to cool slightly.

In a large bowl, mix cream cheese, liquid smoke, and lemon juice. Stir in the cooked shrimp and mix until evenly distributed.. Roll into a ball. Cover the ball and refrigerate until firm, about an hour.  Mix parsley with the toasted sesame seeds in a bowl. Roll the ball in the parsley/sesame seed mixture. Cover and refrigerate the cream cheese shrimp ball until completely firm, at least one hour.

Mashed Potatoes With Cream Cheese

My daughter taught me that mashed potatoes should never be eaten without the addition of cream cheese. One word only is needed to describe the taste - WOW! Make mashed potatoes with cream cheese just once, and you will never never make them any other way!

Ingredients
5 or 6 medium size potatoes, peeled and baked or boiled until done
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 stick butter, melted
milk
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Mash the potatoes, whip with butter, cream cheese, milk (start with 1/4 cup), salt and pepper until smooth.  

Decorate Christmas Cupcakes with Marshmallow Fondant and Cookie Cutters

These cupcakes are so easy to decorate with the help of small Christmas cookie cutters and yummy marshmallow fondant. See my article at Associated Content and get baking!

Holiday Appetizers

Can you believe it's the holiday season already?
Are you planning a holiday party and still need an appetizer recipe or two?
Check my article at Associated Content for Bacon Wrapped Scallops, Sausage Balls and Bleu Cheese Dip - All are delectable!

Halloween Ghost Cupcakes

It's almost Halloween!

Serve these not-so-scary ghosts to your family and friends. These cupcakes made with a cake mix, a container of frosting and marshmallow fondant are simple to make and taste absolutely yummy! See my eHow article, How to Make Ghost Cupcakes, for step-by-step instructions.

Healthy Chili Recipe

The temperature outside is dropping, leaves are falling from the trees and football has invaded your television - the fall season has arrived. Wait, not so fast - it isn't official until that familiar aroma of hearty, healthy chili is wafting throughout your home. Now it's fall!

See my Hearty, Healthy Chili Recipe published on Associated Content!