The Grapefruit

            I wonder if you are tired of seeing commercials talking about your holiday weight gain and what you need to do about it.  Do this diet, take our pill, and use that equipment.  All this is repeatedly told to us in an effort to get us to lose weight.

          The diet I’m going to talk about is The Grapefruit Diet.  It’s a “diet” that somehow shows up every year as part of the weight loss phenomena.  I want to say there is a problem with this diet.  Many people don’t like grapefruits because they are too tangy.

             I have a solution.  Here is how I like my grapefruit.

Grapefruit Salad

1 Grapefruit (red or pink preferred)

2 Navel Oranges

1 cp. fresh Pineapple*

*If fresh Pineapple is not available, an 8 oz. can of Pineapple packed in juice can be used.  Be sure to drain the juice before use.

1. Peel the Grapefruit.  Then cut or peel the individual sections from the membrane.
2. Prepare the Navel Oranges the same way as the grapefruit.
3. Cut the Pineapple into tidbits.
4. Put all the fruit together in a bowl.

Note: This can be eaten right away.  If not, put the salad in the refrigerator until a half hour before serving.

               I hope you enjoy this refreshing salad.

Red Beans & Rice with Sausage

           Today is the first day of 2013.  It’s my birthday and I am making the resolution that I am going to lose the 80lbs I have gained in the past thirty years.

          My first goal is to lose 30 lbs by April 1.  Since I don’t have a scale, my results will be measured in what clothing I can wear again.

          To celebrate the New Year we will have our traditional meal of red beans and rice for good luck.  We add sausage just because we love it.  This is an easy recipe.

Red Beans & Rice with Sausage

1 lb. Dry Beans

2 Dried Chipotle Peppers

2 c. Rice

4 c. Water

4 Fresh Sausages

 

1.        Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.         Soak beans in a bowl of hot water for one hour.  The beans must be completely covered by the water.
3.         Drain the beans and put in a Dutch oven.  Completely cover the beans with cold water and add the peppers.  The peppers will float on the water.  Cover the Dutch oven.
4.      Put the beans in the oven to cook.  Periodically check the beans to make sure they remain covered with water.  If they don’t, add more water.
5.        After three hours in the oven, add the sausage to the beans in the Dutch oven.  Cook for another hour.  If the beans are not tender at this point, keep cooking and check every ten minutes until they are tender.
6.       Once the beans and sausage have finished cooking, remove the peppers.
7.       As the beans cool, make the 2 c. rice with the 4 c. fresh water in the method best for you.  I use the microwave.

          Serve everything on a single platter.  Place the rice first then the beans go on top.  The sausages can go either on top of the rice and beans or on the sides of the platter.

Happy New Year