Getting Started on the South Beach Diet

Since I've been writing this blog, I've been shocked at how many people have written to me for diet advice. I guess I shouldn't be so surprised, because I tried unsuccessfully for years to lose weight before I discovered the South Beach Diet in July of 2004, determined to get thin again after I hit my all time high weight that summer. Some of those people who write to me are fellow food bloggers, and for a while I've been promising to write a post like this with my own tips for getting started on eating the low-glycemic way.

Recipe Favorites: The Best Recipes of 2007

I know some people don't really care about year-end hoopla, but I always enjoy looking back on the year that's ending and reflecting on my life. Here at Kalyn's Kitchen this was really a great year, so when Nupur from One Hot Stove announced her idea to have food bloggers post about The Best of 2007, I thought it sounded like fun. Nupur left the rules very flexible, but I decided to pick one favorite recipe from each month.

Breakfast Casserole Recipe with Asparagus, Mushrooms, and Goat Cheese

It's the morning of Christmas Eve, so let me begin by sending happy holiday wishes to my faithful readers and fellow bloggers. After I post this I'm going to take a few days off from blogging and enjoy some time with my family and friends. I hope everyone else is farther down on their Christmas to-do list than I am, and well on the way to relaxing! This recipe would be great for a special breakfast if you have holiday guests, or perfect to make on the weekend and eat during the week anytime of year.

Recipe for Stir-Fried Shrimp with Snow Peas (or Sugar Snap Peas) and Ginger

(Updated 12-07) When I posted this recipe last December, I jokingly said I should call this dish Menu for Hope Shrimp because when I thawed out the shrimp, I had a much more complicated recipe in mind. I switched to this simple recipe after I'd been working for hours on last year's Menu for Hope! The simple recipe turned out to be a real keeper, amazingly delicious, and it took only about 10 minutes to make! This is a great week-night dinner any time of year, but it seems especially perfect for this busy time of year.

My Menu for Hope Wish List!

A Menu for Hope has just four three days to go, and it's time to get involved! We need your help to beat last year's total. As I post this, we've raised $35,135.00 (Updating Wednesday and the total is now $43,065 $47, 285!) Of course, the best reason to support Menu for Hope is the way you'll be helping the UN World Food Program bring food to hungry people in Lesotho. But don't forget about those prizes! Take a look at the full list of prizes at Chez Pim.

Recipe Favorites: Chicken Stuffed with Green Chiles and Cheese

(Updated 12-07 I should have made this a recipe favorite a long time ago, since it's the absolutely favorite recipe on my blog for my neighbors Brooke and Russ. I'm very fond of it as well, and if you like Mexican food this chicken stuffed with green Anaheim chiles and cheese will probably become one of your favorites too.)

Roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe with Double Truffle Flavor and Parmesan

For me the best recipes are ones which are simple to make but still have something that bumps them into *special* status. This recipe for sweet potatoes, tossed with olive oil and roasted until the edges are getting golden brown, then seasoned with truffle oil, truffle salt, and Parmesan cheese, fits perfectly into that category. I used the truffle oil from the taste of Italy I got from Ilva, and the truffle salt was sent to me to try from the generous people at Mirepoix USA, who have all kinds of wonderful truffle products. (Truffles are not cheap, but once you taste them you'll see what the fuss is about! For the record, I don't write about things sent to me for review unless I'm wildly enthusiastic about the product and it's something I would purchase myself, and I absolutely love this truffle salt.)

Recipe Favorites: Greek Lemon Chicken

(Updated 12-15-2007) I'm already noticing bloggers announcing that they're taking the rest of December off. Like everyone, I'm cooking a lot less these days and spending time getting ready for Christmas. I do have a few new recipes coming during the holidays, but I'm also going to spotlight some of my favorites from the past for the rest of December.

South Beach Diet Friendly Chicken Noodle Soup with Thyme

Chicken Noodle Soup, using Dreamfield's Pasta for the noodles!

Thanks to everyone who has inquired about how I'm feeling after I was sick for what seemed like months, but was really only weeks. After my doctor put me on some strong antibiotics, I'm doing much better. It was during the time I was still feeling sickly that I made this soup, something that came out of an "aha" moment when I realized I could use Dreamfields Linguini for the noodles in chicken noodle soup and it would be South Beach Diet friendly. I used leftover rotisserie chicken for the meat in this recipe, and I loved the way this soup turned out! Some of you may think this looks like a pretty unexciting recipe, but trust me, mothers everywhere who are South Beach Dieters will thank me for this!

Menu for Hope 2007 Starts Today!

Once again, food bloggers from all over the world are joining in A Menu for Hope to raise money for the UN World Food Program, with donations earmarked for a school food program in Lesotho. You can see the need for help in that part of the world by looking at these photos from Lesotho on Chez Pim. Along with Pim, and the other regional hosts, I'm certain we can beat last year's total of $62,925.12, and you can help!

Two Great Prizes for A Menu for Hope 2007

A Menu for Hope oficially kicks off tomorrow morning. That's when I'll be posting about some great prizes that have been donated by bloggers from the Central U.S. region. This post is just a little sneak preview of two prizes being sponsored or announced by Kalyn's Kitchen (and since I can't do everything at once, I need to post about my own prizes before I can write a post about all the prizes!) This year's collection of prizes is even more over-the-top fabulous than last year, and once again, all money raised goes to the UN World Food Program, so be generous, and you just might win a prize! Check Chez Pim early Monday morning to see all the prizes and get more details about how you can participate.

White Bean and Artichoke Dip Recipe with Whole Wheat Tortilla Chips

(Update 2009: Kalyn's Kitchen is part of Holiday 2009 at Oprah.com, and this is one of the recipes being featured there. Welcome to anyone visiting from Oprah.com!)

Recipe for Florida Butter Beans (or Lima Beans) Soup with Ham and Cabbage

Before we start talking about food, just two quick reminders about some deadlines. If you're thinking about sponsoring a prize for A Menu for Hope, I need to hear from you by early this weekend, since the campaign starts Monday, December 10, and I need some time to write up the prizes. Second, tonight at 11:59 P.M. (EST) is the deadline to nominate one of your favorite blogs for the Food Blog Awards. If you've been procrastinating on either of those, get on it!

Lentil Soup Recipe with Italian Sausage and Roasted Red Peppers

In Utah it's been getting cold for a while now, but suddenly over the weekend it went from "soup sounds okay" to "must make soup now" weather. I woke up Saturday to snow on the ground and more snow falling, and had to give myself a serious talking-to before I managed to shovel the sidewalk and go to the grocery store. Well now I've resigned myself to the weather, plus I have some tasty soup to enjoy so life is seeming a little better.

Lots of Things Happening in December, and We're Also Cooking with Herbs!

How did 2007 go by so quickly? It feels like I just looked up from the computer keyboard for a few seconds, and suddenly it's December. This is a special time of year of course, and in addition to all the holiday celebrating there are two events happening now which should be of interest to anyone who loves food blogs.