Low fat pizza and taco dip for Sunday's big game!

Don't these recipes look good for those of us trying to watch our waist....not expand! I got these from WebMD magazine

Goat Cheese, Fig, and Basil Pizza

Makes 8 servings (2 pieces each person)

4-oz package dried figs, chopped

1 tbsp aged balsamic vinegar

3 tbsp water

1 large pizza crust or 4 round pita breads

1 cup crumbled soft goat cheese (a 4-oz package will yield 1 cup)

3 tbsp chopped fresh basil

1 tbsp pine nuts

1/2-1 tbsp olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Combine the figs, balsamic vinegar, and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Place the figs in a small bowl. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper.
4. Top the pizza with the goat cheese and figs, and sprinkle with the basil and pine nuts. Drizzle the olive oil over the top. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the cheese melts.
Per serving: 168 calories, 6 g protein, 26 g carbohydrate, 5 g fat, 2.3 g saturated fat, 7 mg cholesterol, 2 g fiber, 215 mg sodium.

Light Seven-Layer Dip

Makes 12 servings

15-oz can fat-free refried beans with jalapeños

8 oz fat-free sour cream or plain yogurt

1-oz packet taco seasoning mix

8 oz guacamole

2 cups finely shredded reduced-fat cheese

2 large tomatoes, diced

1 bunch scallions,

1/4 cup sliced black olives

Baked tortilla chips
In a 13x9x2 clear dish, layer each of the following and serve with baked tortilla chips:
1. Refried beans

2. Sour cream mixedwith taco seasoning

3. Guacamole
4. Shredded cheese

5. Scallions

7. Olives
Per serving (dip only): 83 calories, 5 g protein, 6.1 g carbohydrate, 4.5 g fat (1.9 g saturated fat, 1.9 g monounsaturated fat, 0.3 g polyunsaturated fat), 7 mg cholesterol, 0.6 g fiber, 324 mg sodium.

Look at these adorable harnesses for your dog!

If you're like me, you love to spoil your dog! My dog Duffy has a few items from Dacshund Delights/Hug a dog harness in Garrettsville. Everything is handmade and very reasonably priced! Here's Duffy in one of his harnesses from the girls at Hug a dog!

Take a look at some of the other cool things they have made! http://www.doxidelight.com/huggallery.htm

Guess the pop star...

She's a famous pop star and a fashion icon....It's Gwen Stefani...1986!

Artsy high school senior Stefani dreams of being a homemaker like her mother, but when older brother Eric forms a band, No Doubt, with fellow Dairy Queen workers, she agrees to join as second vocalist.

What fun we had sledding!!!!!

Remember sledding as a kid????? We'd get all bundled up with so many layers of clothing we couldn't even move???? Look at Emma and Zoli all ready to get on the slopes! Doesn't Zoli remind you of the kid in "Christmas Story"?

We took my nieces and nephew sledding at our friends Frank and Sharon Murphy's house. Frank builds mounds of snow in his front yard with a weaving track and even provides the saucers for the kids! I can't tell you how much fun the triplets had! After dark, he lights tiki torches along the track! Thanks for the memories, Frank!!!!!

Here's the kids getting warm with their friends Reagan, Emma and Katie! Nothing like cupcakes after a day of sledding!

Can chocolate really help you lose belly fat?????

Acording to the February issue of Prevention Magazine, yes, chocoate can help you lose belly fat....YEAH! Our prayers have been answered! In fact chocolate, olives, oils, nuts and seeds and avocado all contain fatty acids known as MUFAs, good-for-you fats that protect you from chronic disease and according to new research, can help you lose fat, specifically around your middle! Eating one serving of any of these MUFA's can help you lose belly fat, control your calorie intake and help you lose inches and pounds, especially in the waist!

http://www.prevention.com/flatbellydietslideshow/

Listen to Paula Abdul's new song

Hopefully, she's not cryin about her new song. It's called "Dance like there's no tomorrow" and it'll be on the new Randy Jackson compilation CD, "Randy Jackson's Music Club Vol. 1" due in stores March 11th. Click here to hear the new Paula Abdul song.....http://ryan.kiisfm.com/pages/paulaabdul.html

New line of clothing based on American Idol fame

Lyric Culture, a premium adult contemporary lifestyle brand, is launching LYRIX, its first brand extension based on the songs and style made famous by the hit television phenomenon "American Idol." The initial LYRIX-"American Idol" collection focuses on the tween market, with plans to further expand into kidswear and accessories.
LYRIX, a rock n' roll apparel line designed for girls ages 7-16 and driven by popular song lyrics, will debut the “American Idol” collection, which includes tees, denim skirts, jackets and vests, velour hoodies and sweat pants retailing between $24.00 and $58.00, in 157 Federated unit Macy's stores in early February 2008. Fans can also purchase select items from the collection online beginning January 18th. "Idol" fans can get a 10 % discount by entering the following promo code: LyrixVIP.
LYRIX t-shirts will draw inspiration from classic pop and R&B hits performed on "American Idol," such as RESPECT, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, You Had a Bad Day and Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.
"'American Idol,' which garners 60 million viewers each week, is the most powerful and iconic music brand in popular culture today. Synonymous with great music and great fashion, it's the perfect tie-in for our creative concept" said Hanna Rochelle Schmieder, President of Lyric Culture. "Now, girls worldwide can dress like an Idol and express themselves through their favorite songs with the LYRIX line."
"Lyric Culture has taken a unique approach in personalizing musical expression through fashion," added Nora Wong, senior manager of consumer licensing for FremantleMedia Enterprises’ North American licensing team. "Lending the 'American Idol' name to this apparel line is a fantastic extension for both brands and gets to the heart of what our brand is all about."

I LOVE Bob Greene

I recently bought Bob Greene's "The Best Life Diet" book, so I was happy to meet the man who made Oprah look so fabulous! It's a great book with lots of healthy recipes. I love to cook, so I don't have to eat a breast of chicken with broccoli to lose weight and get healthy. I even got Trapper and Jim eating some of the tasty things in his book. Check out his website at www.thebestlife.com and sign up to get healthy with Bob. He'll be at Giant Eagle in Brunswick on Center Rd. today from 11:30 - 1:30.

Wedding invitation plate

Aren't these wedding invitation plates charming? My friend and WDOK webmaster, Cherise Nichols makes them for all of her friends getting married. She also does them with baby or bridal shower invitations...any kind of invitation! It's a great gift that the recipient will treasure!!! If you'd like to order one of these, here's her webpage which is under construction at this time, but feel free to check it out and contact her! http://www.invitationplates.com/

...and speaking of weddings....have you seen this You Tube video????? It's hilarious!

2008 WDOK/Q104 Bridal Fair

Here we are at the WDOK/Q104 Cleveland Bridal Fair on Jan. 13th at the Renaissance Hotel. It was so much fun playing dress up with the beautiful dress from Catan's Bridal in Strongsville. They have the coolest jewelry there too!!!! Pictured from left to right, Dan Deely and me, Jen Tooey, Rob Cruz from our sister station and me, and "The Radio Queens of Cleveland", Rebecca Wilde, Jen Tooey and me....I adore those girls! Thanks to all who came to see the new fashions!

Girls.....can you relate???????

http://www.imgag.com/product/preview/flash/wsShell.swf?ihost=http://www.imgag.com&brand=/product/preview/flash/wsag&cardNum=/product/full/ap/3066708/graphic1&mtype=0&&NameFirstFrom=&NameFirstTo

Moms with new babies...you gotta check this out!

http://www.mommysentials.com/babykeeperbasic.htm

Wanna learn how to make homemade gourmet treats for your pooch????

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Stefanie Paganini. She is the daughter of the famous Loretta Paganini from the Loretta Paganini School of Cooking on Mayfield Rd. in Chesterland. We had a lot in common in this brief meeting, including our love for animals. She has two cats and recently adopted a Greyhound from the rescue organization here in Northeast Ohio. This inspired her to teach a cooking class on gourmet treats for dogs. Zoe the dog sure got lucky when she found her momma! Here's the details on the class!

Saturday, May 17, 2008 - 2:00 PM .....Spoil Your Dog
(Paganini, S., $35, 2.5hrs) Hands-OnCreate and take home delicious treats for your favorite pooch! A portion of each class registration will be donated to Ohio Greyhound Placement.Menu: Fresh Breath Nuggets, Pumpkin Biscotti, Cheese'rific Bites, Peanut Butter Biscuits, Beefy Bones

http://www.lpscinc.com/classesdetail.asp?id=3397

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Need help dieting? These foods might help!

Foods That Will Speed Up Your Metabolism

What is a Diuretic? A diuretic is a medication or chemical that promotes the elimination of fluid in the body. This can lead to an accelerated metabolism that seems to flush out the fatty deposits that may lodge themselves on cells. Diuretics break down fatty deposits into small chunks and makes it easier for your body to flush these nasty little things out of your body.

• Asparagus contains the chemical asparagine. This is an alkaloid that stimulates the kidneys and improve the circulatory process. These alkaloids directly effect the cells and break down fat. It also contains a chemical that helps to remove waste from the body by breaking up the oxalic acid, this acid tends to glue fat to cells, so by breaking the acid up, it helps to reduce fat levels.
• Beets are a strong diuretic that focuses on the liver and kidneys. Beets flush out floating body fats. They have a special iron the cleanses the corpuscles, corpuscles are blood cells that can contain fat deposits. It also contains a chlorine that also helps to flush out fatty deposits. This chlorine stimulates the lymph which will clear out the fat deposits.
• Brussel Sprouts stimulate the glands, the pancreas especially, which releases hormones the has a cleansing effect on the cells. There are also minerals the stimulate the kidneys. Waste is released quicker and it helps to clean out the cells.
• Cabbage cleanses your body of waste matter because it contains sulphur and iodine, which helps to cleanse the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines. Cabbage is a great food if you should have a pot belly or a middle age spread. The diuretic cabbage will help to break up the fat in this area.
• Carrots contains carotene, a form of Vitamin A, this carotene will start a fat flushing reaction in your system. This reaction will literally wash out fat and waste quickly. The carotene will be transformed into vitamin A in the intestines and this process will create a speed up in your metabolism and cause a reaction in your cells to remove fat deposits.
• Raw celery has a high concentration of Calcium in a ready to use form, so when you eat it, the calcium is sent directly to work. This pure form of calcium will ignite your endocrine system. The hormones in your body will break up the accumulated fat build up. Celery also has a high level of magnesium and iron which will clean out your system. Cucumber contains a high sulphur and silcon content. These minerals work to stimulate the kidneys to wash out uric acid, which is a waste product. With this uric acid being washed out, it stimulates the removal of fat, and loosens the fat from the cells. If you read about the fat burning foods section you would have seen Garlic on that list, well, it is also a natural diuretic.
• Garlic has mustard oils and these oils create a cleansing action in the body. They promote a vigorous action of peristalsis, which is muscular contraction, and this will loosen fat and help wash out fats. They can also breakdown clumps of fat. So eat garlic and thin down.
• We've all seen horseradish, few venture to use it, but it has an amazing effect of dissolving fat in cells (no side effects) and also as a cleansing effect on the body.
• Lettuce contains iron and magnesium. These minerals will enter your spleen, your spleen helps your immunity and protects the body from illness. The spleen will use these minerals make them stronger, and send them to the cells and tissues. It will also help the liver, increase your metabolism, and wash out fatty cells. The darker lettuces have more of the minerals. So add Lettuce to your diet NOW!
• Onions, similar to garlic, have minerals and oils that will help to breakdown fat deposits and speed up your metabolism. Have raw onions every day, it has more power than garlic and with the milder smell, it will make an excellent addition to your diet. Radishes scrub the mucous membrane of the body because it contains high levels of Iron and Magnesium. These minerals actually help to dissolve fat in the cells.
• Tomatoes have high Vitamin C and Citricmalic-oxalic acids. The acid will accelerate the metabolic process. It also helps the kidneys to release more water and helps to wash away fat. The natural acids with the enzyme activated minerals prompt the kidneys to filter out large quantities of fatty deposits and then you eliminate them from your system. So add tomatoes to your daily diet and your metabolism will thank you for it.
• Apple Cider Vinegar, use this diuretic in small quantities. You can add it to your salad as a dressing. What makes this such a powerful diuretic is this: It is made from apples and the malic acid in apples will create a fat burning process. Another factor with this vinegar is the fermentation process causes the vinegar to have constructive acids that join with alkaline elements and minerals in the body. This produces a cell scrubbing effect. It also contains high levels of potassium, which has an antisceptic quality to that helps to eliminate fat deposits.

It just takes a minute to help the homeless animals

Hi, all you animal lovers. This is pretty simple... Please tell ten friends to tell ten today! The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily to meet their quota of getting free food donated every day to abused and neglected animals. It takes less than a minute (How about 20 seconds) to go to their site and click on the purple box "Click Here to Give--It's Free". This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising.Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know.http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/AGAIN, PLEASE TELL 10 FRIENDS!

A tribute to Dan Fogelberg

I remember sitting in my parents rec room back in the 70's listening to "Homefree" from Dan Fogelberg. I thought he had the most beautiful voice. I would listen to the album over and over again. I knew every single word. Then one day, I sold all my albums at my garage sale. I didn't need them, I had a CD player. I heard Dan Fogelberg had past away Dec. 16th of prostate cancer with his wife Jean by his side. I wished I wouldn't have sold his albums. Over the holidays, I went searching for his albums. I couldn't find any. I looked all over. I finally downloaded it from Rhapsody on my MP3 player. They don't make music like that anymore. I've seen alot of artists in concert, but never had the chance to see him and I'm sorry for that. Now, I hear that Stephen Stills is battling prostate cancer. The good news according to Graham Nash on "Larry King Live" is that his was caught early. Keep Stephen Stills in your prayers.

http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org/site/c.itIWK2OSG/b.271349/k.87DD/Prostate_Cancer_Symptoms.htm

https://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org/site/c.itIWK2OSG/b.3751397/k.53D3/Donation_In_Memory_of_Dan_Fogelberg/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=itIWK2OSG&b=3751397&en=jvKWJ2NMIdLNL4OQKkLUJ3NTJnI5IoMXJhIWIaNYJnK2LeNOKmIdE