I Never Thought Being a Zero Could Be Such a Good Thing

Coca-Cola is really zeroing in on its diet flavors. They just announced today that not only is Vanilla Coke coming back but they’re also bringing in Vanilla Coke Zero. I was never much of a fan of Vanilla Coke but I have a feeling this is going to make a lot of people very happy.

A wise little birdie once told me that this “Zero” variety of Coca-Cola all started with Diet Sprite Zero, which eventually became Sprite Zero. Coke Zero has proved to be incredibly popular for Coke and they’re trying to capitalize on its success by introducing new flavors.

I for one absolutely love the Cherry Coke Zero. I haven’t tried Pibb Zero yet but considering I’m a huge fan of Mr. Pibb, I have a strong inclination I’ll enjoy that one as well.

According to my wise little birdie, there’s also a Fanta Zero and a Vault Zero. I plan on trying the Fanta Zero for sure if only because I love their commercials almost as much as I love diet soda.

With all these varieties of Zero out there, how ever will the consumer choose? I think this all goes back to giving the consumer more choices. Pepsi has also been introducing new products, which I plan to share with you in the near future, and more companies are sure to follow suit.

So, what do you think about Coca-Cola’s ‘”Zero” sodas?

Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day weekend! You know what that means – three-day weekend!!!! Thank goodness for three-day weekends because right about now I’m much in need of one.

This holiday is all about friends, food, fun and partying. However, I think it’s important to remember what this weekend is really about and that’s remembering tho0se that have given their lives for us.

I don’t care if you’re for or against Bush, the war in Iraq and so on, it’s important to support the men and women who are risking their lives for us right now.

In case you didn’t know…

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two-dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University's Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920). While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

Diet Soda Almost Brownies

Diet Soda Almost Brownies

I’m trying to lose a few pounds now that summer is looming. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to ignore my cravings for all things sweet. These brownies taste delicious and are very low in calories. Enjoy!


box of chocolate cake mix
1 can of diet soda
1 small package of instant sugar-free pudding mix
1 8-ounce container of fat-free chilled whipped topping
Mix cake mix cake and diet soda together. Bake in an oil-sprayed 9 x 13 pan. Cook at
350 degrees for approximately 45 minutes until slightly underdone. Cool.

FROSTING
Put 1 small package of sugar-free, fat-free instant chocolate pudding mix into one
8-ounce container of fat-free chilled whipped topping. Mix well. Frost the cake and
cut into squares.

Anybody Want My Teeth?

Oh TMJ, why won’t you leave me alone? For those of you that don’t know, TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. Basically, it is the constant grinding of the teeth and pain in the jaw area.

TMJ often results in severe head and neck aches, stiffness in the face and an overall terrible disposition for Elaine. So, in order to stop living with this annoying issue I decided to undergo a neuromuscular procedure on Friday. They hook you up to this machine that has these little buttons plastered ALL over your face. Then this machine is able to find the perfect setting for your jaw. It’s like a facial massage and it feels fantastic!!!

Unfortunately afterwards, my dentist had to do some other work on my jaw (as part of the procedure) and you know how much fun it always is when the dentist starts messing with your teeth.

I woke up Saturday morning unable to talk clearly or eat solid foods. My friends are loving the fact that they don’t have to listen to me blab but for me, it’s not so much fun. In addition, my face feels like it’s about to fall off.

Here’s what my diet has looked like for the four days:

Lots of Diet soda to keep me hydrated
Cup of soup – those things are really just water, a few fake noodles and salt, right?
Strawberry jello with fat free shipped cream
Oreo blizzards

Yum! Maybe I could get used to this. Well, accept for not being able to talk - that part is driving me crazy.

Diet Soda-Baked Ham with Cherry-Orange Glaze

Okay wow, this recipe looks fantastic. I mean, how can you go wrong with Emeril? Oh yeah babe.

Diet Soda-Baked Ham with Cherry-Orange Glaze
Adapted from Food Network's "Emeril Live"
Ingredients:
1 12 to15 pound fully cooked bone-in ham
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 2 liter bottle diet soda
¾ cup cherry preserves or jelly
¼ cup fresh orange juice
2 tablespoons orange flavored liqueur (Grand Marnier recommended)
Biscuits or dinner rolls, accompaniment
Creole mustard, accompaniment

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Trim rind and excess fat from ham, leaving a ¼ inch thick layer of fat. With a sharp knife, score the fat in a diamond pattern. Place the ham in a large roasting pan and sprinkle with allspice. Pour the cola into the pan and bake uncovered 1 hour and 15 minutes, basting every 15 minutes with the pan juices.

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine the cherry preserves, orange juice and liqueur over medium heat. Cook, stirring until melted, for about 1 to 2 minutes.

Remove the ham from the oven and brush the top and sides with the cherry glaze. Return the ham to the oven and bake, brushing with pan juices and glaze every 15 minutes and tenting the ham with foil if browning too quickly, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the ham, without touching the bone, registers 140 degrees Fahrenheit (about 15 to 30 minutes).

Remove the ham from the oven. Let rest for 30 minutes to 1 hour before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature, thinly sliced, with biscuits or dinner rolls and mustard to make sandwiches.

BAM!!! Enjoy!

A Post With No Subject...Sorry, It's Friday

Ah, it’s Friday, it summertime and…it’s raining. I swear, for the past month it has been sunny Monday through Thursday and then magically, on Friday it rains and doesn’t stop until Sunday night. Someone is playing a mean trick on me!

The parents’ visit went incredibly well! We went to the Inman Park festival on Saturday and then Saturday night, my mom made me and 15 of my friends an amazing meal.

Another great part about the parents visiting is that we always go grocery shopping. This is my chance to really stock up on diet sodas. I got 3 cases of Diet Coke, 1 case of Cherry Coke Zero, 3 cases of Diet Pepsi, 1 case of regular Pepsi and 2 cases of Diet Dr. Pepper. Now if that’s not anti-soda discrimination I don’t know what is. I’m pretty sure I’m keeping the soda people in business for a lifetime.

I haven’t had much time to blog lately. It seems like when my personal and professional lives get crazy, blogging is the first thing to go. I’m sorry for random, haphazard post that has no real topic – it’s just been one of this weeks.