Tasty Tuesday - Figure Friendly Recipe

I fell in love with this recipe from "Hungry Girl" is has all the right stuff to make a "comfort meal" on a cold winter day.  Enjoy

*The PointsPlus™ values for these products and/or recipes were calculated by Hungry Girl and are not an endorsement or approval of the product, recipe or its manufacturer or developer by Weight Watchers International, Inc., the owner of the PointsPlus™ registered trademark.

Too-EZ Mac 'n Cheese

PER SERVING (1 heaping cup): 222

calories, 5.5g fat, 772mg sodium, 35g

carbs, 6g fiber, 6g sugars, 8.5g protein --

PointsPlus™ value 6*

Prep: 5 minutes

Cook: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

4 1/2 oz. (about 2 cups) uncooked whole-wheat-blend or high-fiber rotini pasta (like the

kind by Ronzoni)

24 oz. (about 6 cups) frozen Green Giant Broccoli & Cheese Sauce

3 wedges The Laughing Cow Light Original Swiss cheese

Optional: salt and black pepper

Directions:

In a large pot, prepare pasta according to the instructions on the package; drain well

and set aside. While pasta is cooking, place contents of the broccoli & sauce package in

a large microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave until sauce has melted and broccoli

is hot, 10 - 12 minutes.

Once the bowl is cool enough to handle, remove it from the microwave and add cooked

pasta. Unwrap cheese wedges and add those as well.

Mix thoroughly, ensuring that the cheese wedges are evenly distributed and the pasta

and broccoli are coated in cheese sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper, if you

like, and then enjoy!

MAKES 4 SERVINGS

"I'm Just Sayin" by Alan P. Scaglione

“2012- Nothing changes IF nothing Changes!”

“I’m Just Sayin’”

by Alan P. Scaglione

Happy New Year! 2012—WOW!! Where did 2011 go?

And…this is the year the Mayans quit counting!! Yep—isn’t it 12/21/12?

They say the world is gonna end!!

What do they know? They’ve been gone themselves for thousands of years!

But…just in case, I would hedge my bets…and “Take God Off The Shelf in 2012!!!”



Some of you know exactly what I mean—you have taken your relationship with God and put it away..

For a rainy day?

For some R & R?

God doesn’t need a vacation from you—so why would you need one from Him?



Seriously! This is your New Year’s WAKE UP CALL!! God is calling! God is asking “Where do I fit in your life THIS year???”



HE shouldn’t be someone you only call in crisis or calamity, sorrow or pain, misfortune or desperation.

HE should be someone you look forward to talking to, can’t wait to listen to and always want the opinion of…

Yes—HIS opinion!! It can be found in those 66 Love Letters He wrote to you…and left you for you to read…

All nicely bound in a book you call the Bible!



Question is…when’s the last time you picked up that book and read it?

It’s not the TVGuide; it’s not the daily astrology chart; it’s not the stock market standings, but…

The Bible can “guide” you through your daily life!

The Bible can “predict” the events of your day!

The Bible can “forecast” your success, financial, personal and spiritual!



They say-- it’s a great time for making resolutions!

But we know…most resolutions are broken before the calendar changes from “J” to “F” !

Why? Because we don’t really want to change…until we need to OR we want something bad enough that we are motivated to?

So? What’s it gonna take?

What do you need bad enough that you are willing to ask God to be front and center in your life?

What do you want bad enough that you are willing to ask God to be an active member of your family?



It’s that time of year for change…change is good…change requires effort but rewards are big!!

You lose weight to help your physical man—I just joined Weight Watchers for the FIRST time to lose the 55 pounds I gained in 2011!

What will you do to help your spiritual man?

Add a daily devotional? Consider a scripture a day to ponder? Try to be kinder to one another?



The point is…”nothing changes IF nothing changes!”



I sat through my first Weight Watchers meeting today.

Here I was, a barely middle age man in a sea of elderly white-haired old ladies, all proclaiming the virtue of this program.

The leader, a woman in her sixties, whose claim to fame was 113 pounds lost 10 years ago AND kept off for all 10 years! Bravo!

We all know…losing it is not the problem…sustained weight loss IS the problem!



She was extolling the virtue of planning out what you’re going to eat each day.

She said, ”if you fail to plan, you plan to fail! Do you plan to fail? You’re wasting a lot of time and money.

IF you are not going to apply the plan to your life, decide to be “a different you” and give value to the “change” you seek—quit now!”



All the white haired ladies applauded and grinned and shook their heads!

I just took it all in—and wondered why we can’t do the same for our spiritual life?



If you knew…12/21/12 was the last day you were on this earth…would you “change” anything about your life today?

It’s a New Year—Redefine yourself in 2012!

It really is…your call!



On December 22nd…just don’t say…nobody warned you? Nobody tried to prepare you?

Here’s my New Year’s blessing for you:

“May HE give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed!” (Psalm 20:4)



Until Next Time

I’m Just Sayin’…

Brother “A”



Points2Ponder By Alan P. Scaglione

“Take time to reflect—what you caught, what you let go—Lessons Learned in 2011!”

                                          Points2Ponder

Wow! 2011 is almost over…what a year it’s been!

As this year draws to an end, I feel the need to reflect on the good that has happened this year!

It’s important to take inventory of how the year unfolded, what it produced and how it left you better than when you started 2011!

For example:

At the beginning of 2011, I was still dealing with very present and regular heart attack symptoms.

I have been healed since end of January, with my cardiologist attesting that “it’s like he never had a heart attack—no damage to his heart!”

At the beginning of 2011, I had a broken relationship with an old friend from church.

Through the course of email, we have healed that relationship and “herald and rabboni” are close supportive friends once again!

At the beginning of 2011, I thought that I would not be seeing my aunt Ciria make it to her 80^th birthday in July.

She not only made it, we had this BIG surprise party for her, and she told me she “made a lifetime memory today!” – she went to heaven 2 months later!

At the beginning of 2011, I wondered where an old high school friend who literally saved my life was—I felt this heartfelt need to thank her.

Through the wonder of Facebook, my wife found her and her son, my godson, and they are now active members of my “Family” like time never passed!

At the beginning of 2011, I didn’t even know someone was out there looking for me; She asked one thing for her 72^nd birthday—find Alan!

Through the wonder of social networking, her children found me and in February, I was the surprise guest of her party and now Mama Mamie is my mom!

At the beginning of 2011, I didn’t know that I would write and finish my first novel “One Unexpected Event!”

Through the unexpected moment of turning a corner in Plant City while strolling my grandson through McCall Park in January, a novel was born!

All these good things happened in 2011, and my life is forever changed because they happened!

But we have to take inventory of the bad also…so we can learn from it…remember it’s a lesson, not a mistake, if you learn from it!

At the beginning of 2011, I had no idea that I would get a call on 1.1.11 that would shake my world to its core and challenge my faith and family.

Through dealing with the aftermath of this revelation, it has strengthened my faith and weakened my family.

I know that all things happen for a reason—but some things, you just have to shake your head and go “Really? I don’t get this! Are you sure?”

POINTS2PONDER  Why do so many people just meander year after year, never taking inventory of the lessons learned in a single year so they can grow from the

Experiences, add the value to their lives and attempt to apply the knowledge to produce a better result in the upcoming year? Why not take stock of your year?

So friend…here’s your homework—Take stock of your 2011—Take an inventory of the good and the bad—Reflect on what you’ve learned and how you’ve grown!

It’s important to know what this year taught you, brought you…before you go into next year!

So for this moment, don’t look to next year, reflect on this year…and Learn the Lesson it was trying to teach you!

I call it “Hurdle 18!”

Hurdle 18, you might ask?

Yep…I think life is a relay race, full of hurdles along the way, each one taking what you learned in the last one and…increasing the difficulty in the next one.

You fail hurdle 18—some people just give up, sit on the sideline and watch others run the race.

When you’re ready to run…

Hurdle 18 is waiting for you!

Gotta get through it BEFORE you get to 19!

Can’t finish the race til you go through all the hurdles!

So…. Reflect!

I'm Just Sayin by Alan P. Scaglione - Christmas Edition

 "Three Generations of Scaglione Men at Christmas 2011!"

“I’m Just Sayin’”


by Alan P. Scaglione



8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:8-14

It’s Christmas around the world—angels still declare “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth Peace, good will toward men!

And it’s the one day of the year when we all stop and recognize the greatest gift given to man was not sent through a Palace but

Instead…was delivered in a stable and placed in a manger—God’s gift to His people to save them from their sin!

Isn’t it just like a loving Father to know exactly what His children need…and provide it?

And today, the world stops, and we pause and give Praise for such a wonderful gift—

We don’t deserve it, we can’t earn it, but…we can’t live without it!!! The greatest gift given to mankind-- His name is JESUS!




I have only seen this once, but someday, I promise, when I retire and start working with wood(a dream of mine)

I will build a nativity scene for my front yard that will have all the usual members, but no 3 wisemen(they didn’t show up for 2 years!)

But…at the foot of the manger, it will have Santa, on bended knee, hat in his hand, gazing at the gift he could not give, and it will say:

“Even Santa knows….Jesus is the Reason for the Season!”




It’s not about the presents the children are all opening this morning, but it is about the presence we feel in our hearts knowing that

We have accepted the gift of God, His Son/Our Savior, and that is the true meaning of Christmas!

So, as you gather today, sharing your Christmas meal, take time to reflect on this:


On this night, so long ago

A baby born to Mary

Of all those around, only she would know

The burden her boy would carry

For all of us…

Sitting here…

Saved by her sweet Son

He was sent to earth

To give a gift

That could never be outdone

Yes—It’s the Gift He Gave, The Gift He brought from the Father—He was born to die, to give the gift of Life so willingly..

It’s that Gift He gave to you and me!


And if…you are reading this today, and you have never accepted the Gift He Gave…wouldn’t that make this your BEST Christmas ever?

Just Accept His Gift, say Thank You—we can’t earn it or can’t work it off someway—

all we can say…”Thank you, Lord for giving your life so I could be saved!”





Hey….wise men still seek Him…


You know what makes them wise?

That they know…HE is the one to seek!




Have a very Merry Christmas, from our house to yours!


Until Next Time

I’m Just Sayin’…

Brother “A”

Points2Ponder by Alan P. Scaglione

                                          "What a Blessing! My Sister...My Friend!"                                                             Points2Ponder


Everybody’s got family, right?

You don’t have to like ‘em, but you do have to love ‘em!

And don’t let anybody talk about them…Family defends family!

At least, that’s how I was taught and how I have lived.

There was a time when families, cousins, uncles, aunts…all spent time with each other—family was also friends.

Don’t see too much of that anymore.



I am blessed to have a lifelong friend who is also family—she has known me since I was 11 years old, and she has been a sister, a sister-in-law…a friend.

Kay is my brother Paul’s wife, but she is also a friend to me.

The two of them are our best friends.

We choose to spend time together.

We enjoy the time we spend and look forward to sharing our stories of our children’s exploits and successes.

We are family…but we are also friends.



POINTS2PONDER Why do some families not build relationships that include friendships and time spent sharing life and making memories? Why is it so foreign to some people that your family can also be your friend?





Kay has been a supporter and a counselor; she’s been a sister and partner in crime. She has helped me through a lot of rough times in my life, both as a sister and as a friend. She is someone that I know that I can count on to pray for my family, protect my good character and encourage me when times get tough.



And she gets along famously with my wife—the four of us are the Mertzes and the Ricardos, taking our day trips around Florida and our annual Christmas Light Tour.

We just did that this past Saturday Night!

We have 4 different places that we go to each year—just the four of us. Our kids think we are old-fogies, driving around just to see Christmas lights!

If we are…we are the youngest old-fogies I’ve ever met!



You have to see family at holidays and birthdays; weddings and funerals. You always say “we should spend more time together!” But, you never do.

And that’s the sad truth to many families. They just don’t enjoy spending time with family.


Not like they enjoy their friends.



So you have to know how fortunate I feel to have family that is also friends.

We laugh together, we cry together; we even pray together, like in the middle of Perkins Restaurant on Saturday night. Praying for our children is a priority!



I’ve had people comment to me how rare it is that brothers are also friends and in-laws get along.

I tell them that “they are the ones I know we can depend on, count on and look forward to sharing our life with.”



I don’t take their friendship for granted. I honor it with time, detail, concern and priority.

Isn’t that how you should honor a valued friendship?

How much more when those friends are also your family?



If you are one of those fortunate family members who also consider your family your friend, let them know how much you appreciate your unique, valuable relationship.




Believe me, I have been to the funeral with family who haven’t spoken in years, since the last wedding or funeral, and they all mourn the fact that they don’t see each other.

But, they all scurry to their car to get back to their lives, and their friends, because “that may be their family, but they certainly are NOT their friends!”



So, I know just how blessed my wife and I are to have my brother and sister-in-law also be our closest and dearest friends.

We salute them and honor them in our lives.



I don’t need a certain number of friends, just some friends I can be certain of.

And when I can be certain of my friends who are family—I am truly blessed.

How about you?

I'm Just Sayin' By Alan P. Scaglione

                                               Celebrate the Love in Your Life


On the 6th day of Christmas, my Savior gave to me

The BEST wife that there could ever be!



Today is my wedding anniversary—12 years ago today,

God blessed me by giving me the love of my life!

I have often told her…”God gave you to me…just to show me how much He cares!”



I am blessed beyond measure— I really do NOT deserve her, but I wake up each day trying to earn her!

That’s where Bella always says, “yes, and keep trying!”

We always laugh.



You see…I have learned-- all you need to know “what good is”…is to have had bad.

And I can say that my wife is a gift from God to me.

In the last twelve years, there’s never been a day that I don’t wonder, “what does she see in me?”

And when I ask, and yes, I still do ask…she says, “you are the love of my life—I see the man God gave me!”

And I am sure…there are days when she says, “Lord, that man you gave me…give me strength!”

Believe me, my wife is racking up treasures in Heaven for putting up with me and my life that she inherited.



Did I mention that she is as quiet and demurred as I am loud and extraverted?

Yeh—I may have failed to mention it.



And I have to tell you, 12 years ago, I really didn’t see the point of “quiet time”; why not just keep talking?

12 years later, I have come to appreciate and even treasure the “quiet times” when words are not necessary and movement distracts.



I think God sent her to me just to teach me to sit, rest, relax and enjoy the Selah moments of life!

Selah is a word that you may see a lot in the book of Psalms. It means “Pause!”



And I now know the peace that comes with the joy of just pausing and reflecting on God’s goodness.

And it has made me a better person, a better man, a better friend, a better father and… a better husband.



She has taught me a lot—which is surprising only to me, because…I thought I was sent to her to improve her life!

See? God knows exactly what He’s doing!



For those of you who have been married for a while, you know… marriage takes effort, but I don’t believe it should be work.

I still can’t wait to see her each night and look forward to sharing my successes first with her.

She calms me and excites me; She supports me and protects me; She leans on me and holds me up; She defends me and applauds me.



And that’s why I know how Christ must love the Church because the scripture states that a man should love his wife like Christ loved the church.

He loved the church enough to lay down His life to save theirs; to want the best for them even if it means great sacrifice for Him!(Ephesians5:25-29)

I know how much I want to protect and give the best of myself to my wife, so I can only imagine how much more Jesus loves us!

Really hits home when you realize that God’s intention is for us to love and be loved…just like He loves us!



So today, as I celebrate this day with my lovely bride, why not take a moment to reach out to your gift from God called your spouse?

It’s a week before Christmas— why not plan a night to just go see the lights? Maybe walk down through the neighborhood?

Take the time to let them know…

You still thank God for giving them to you…and you still don’t know what they see in you!

And then… rest, relax, reflect:

Take Time to Selah!



Until Next Time

I’m Just Sayin’…

Brother “A”

Points2Ponder by Alan P. Scaglione

"Who Says Christmas is Just for Kids?"

Points2Ponder


Anybody know what time it is?

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

And… It’s the beginning of a special tradition my wife and I share:

The Twelve Days of Christmas…which started December 13th!

Why should that matter to anyone?

Because…it’s my first day of twelve days of presents…

I know, you’re probably thinking, “he’s a grown man! He shouldn’t be thinking about getting presents!”

And you would be right!

I am grown and…I shouldn’t be thinking of getting a present each day, celebrating the climactic countdown to the most wonderful day of the year!

Did I ever mention that my wife says that we have six kids and 5 grandkids and yet…

She says that I am the BIGGEST KID SHE HAS!

And I have to admit, after careful consideration of the evidence presented…

I AM!!!

We have been celebrating Twelve Days of Christmas since we started dating.

The kids are sooo jealous!

My son said, “Pops, why is it that you get twelve days of presents AND Christmas Day! And we just get Christmas?”

I pondered his point, searching for a philosophic, esoteric, universal, transcending explanation to this query.

Then I said, “Guess I lucked out!”

He was not happy—and yet, I loved every minute of it!



POINTS2PONDER Why do we allow “life” to rob us of the joy of Christmas? Why can’t we still be a “kid” when it comes to celebrating Christmas?



Here’s how it goes:

Every year, we exchange tokens of love and appreciation. You call them presents; I call them “Just Because” gifts.

Just Because…I love you; Just Because…I appreciate you; Just Because…I wanted to!

And the presents aren’t expensive; one year, we made it a Dollar Store Christmas.

I told her that I promised her the world when she married me—I gave her a blow up globe!

See? It can be funny and yet heartfelt.

And each day has a card celebrating the unique moment that we are sharing .

Each year has a theme.

For example, some themes of years past have been: Goals, Dreams, Bucket List, Attitude of Gratitude, and Reasons why I love you.

You get the picture—it really is a time of year when we pause to appreciate our relationship, the gift God gave each of us when He gave us to each other!



This year’s theme…Top 12 Favorite Memories We’ve Made!



Each day, we wake up with anticipation. Not just of the present given but of the words expressed and shared.

And we start our day excited about what we’ve received and revealed…and a smile and a memory to carry us through the day!



And that’s why we do it!



So???

Why not start your own tradition?

Start your own Twelve Days of Christmas.

Share your own memories or reasons why you love your spouse; “Just Because” presents that express your affection.

Remember…it’s the sharing of thoughts and revealing of your love to one another that is the real reason you may want to do this.

And you’re right—you don’t have to do this to share and reveal with your spouse.

But I ask you?

When’s the last time you took twelve days to tell your spouse something specific that you love or appreciate or admire about them?

When’s the last time you shared twelve days of dreams or goals or things you want to do before you “kick the bucket”?

We all say…”they know how I feel-they don’t need me to say it or express it.”

But…who doesn’t like to be reminded every once in a while?



So…the reward is…taking the hustle and the bustle that this time of year can consume us with…and stopping for a moment each morning…

Starting your day the right way!

And besides…

I ask you…who doesn’t love opening a present when you wake up…twelve days in a row!

I know this BIG KID sure does!