Elegant Bites For A Fabulous Healthy Body

Winner’s Weightloss Cooking Class
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Noon & 5:30PM

Tallahassee, Florida

Elegant Bites For A Fabulous Healthy Body
By Kathi Dameron


1. I’m Losing My Marbles! So far I’ve lost 75 of them!

2. How To Create A Beautiful Skewered Cocktail… Fragrant Shrimp Skewered Appetizer Cocktails with Far Eastern Spices

3. How To Add A Dash of Style and Pizzazz to A Savory Baked Appetizer … Spinach Artichoke Triangles with Fiesta Confetti Bites

4. Toss the Shrimp and Fresh Grapefruit In A Wild Greens Salad and Living Vegetable Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

5. Strawberry Kiwi Frozen Slushes will be served

These measurements are estimates, please adjust to suit your own preferences.

Fragrant Shrimp Marinade

1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 ½ teaspoons fresh cracked mixed blend gourmet pepper
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ package orange Winner’s Weightloss Supplement / water
½ teaspoon cardamom
½ teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons canola oil
Apple cider vinegar (optional)

Mix together and use as a marinade for shrimp, seafood, fish, etc.


Spinach Artichoke Triangles

1 - 14 oz. can artichoke hearts, drained
½ cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
¼ cup water mixed with
¼ package Winners Weightloss chicken soup supplement
1 egg
2 egg whites
¼ bread crumbs
black pepper to taste
½ teaspoon dried oregano
dash of cayenne pepper
½ cup shredded spinach
½ cup grated zucchini
¾ cup shredded reduced fat Monterey Jack cheese
¼ cup shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese
fat free sour cream or yogurt
confetti chopped veggies

Chop artichoke hearts in food processor. Set aside.
Mix together water and chicken soup supplement.
Saute onions and garlic in water blend until tender.
In small bowl mix together egg and egg yolks until frothy.
Mix in remaining ingredients then transfer to a 9x9x2 baking pan that has been pre-sprayed with no-stick cooking spray.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Spread with garlic and herb fat free sour cream or yogurt (optional) and garnish with confetti chopped veggies, then cut and triangles and serve.

For my online friends, I'll try to get some pictures posted after the class. Maybe I'll even post a video after future classes. Thanks for reading my blog :) Love and Kisses! Kathi

Create A Stress Plan

To all my Dear Dieting Compatriots,

Do you have a Stress Plan to guide you when times of stress in your life threaten to wreck havoc on your diet?

Not until I sat down to write this post a few minutes ago did I realize the importance for creating a stress plan or plans to carry me through times of personal crises.

The bottom-line reality is that food has always been my comforter through the storms of life.

How unhealthy and dysfunctional is that?

A couple years before embarking on my Winner's Weightloss program, it occurred to me, perhaps by a ray of divine insight that when I felt inner turmoil, I would turn to sugar.
A friend who is a psychologist had told me that my behavior was a classic example of self-medicating oneself. In fact, he had done his dissertation on the very subject.

Interesting.

I called good ole' mom.

"Did you use to give me sugary treats when I was upset?" I asked.

"We always had cookies for you children to calm you when you were upset," she responded.

Bingo! I had found the root of my eating disorder! Momma's good intentions had created a pattern that I would battle my entire life.

After a time of aggravation with Momma, it was time to let her off the hook, forgive her for the damage she had unknowingly created. After all she was only trying to be the best mother she knew how to be. Unfortunately, she had no clue that sugar was a terrible stress solution.

With stress of varying degrees an inevitable part of the human condition, a dieter would be wise to create their own personal stress plan, maybe even a plan a, a plan b, and a plan c!

The challenge before us is to create OUR STRESS PLANS! I'm going to start formulating mine and I encourage you to do the same. I invite you to share your strategies, what works for you and what doesn't. If you have a blog or website that you author, or a favorite site of encouragement that you visit that deals with diet-related issues, please share a link with us!

I want to hear from you! To comfort and nurturing! Kathi

You've Been Flamingoed!

Jaunty bright pink plastic flamingos decorated the front yard.

Lordy, Lordy!

Look whose Forty!

Gabriela knew she was in for a fun birthday, but she had no idea that her husband had booked a surprise trip to the fabulous Flamingo Las Vegas where she was about to meet the surprise of her life!

Don't miss Gabriela's and Marco's hilarious romp!

Yellow-Tailed Snapper With Fiery Mango-Habanero Salsa

"After the race, let's stop at the fish market." I said as I laced up my Air Jordan running shoes.

"Fish, tonight? Fish is always a great Friday night dinner entree. What do you have in mind?"

"I was hoping to find a yellow-tailed snapper that we could grill and top with a fiery mango and habanero salsa. Maybe we can stop by the farmers market and pick up some nice wild greens, too."

A Master's Cheesecake

"Every spring, champions of the game of golf gather at the Augusta National Golf Club to compete in the first of America's major tournaments, the Masters." Second Round Tea Time At The Masters by The Junior League of Augusta, Georgia.

Attending the Masters is exciting, whether or not you are a player. But by all means ladies and gentlemen, dress the part. For the latest fashions in golf apparel ladies check out the women's golf pro shop online. While you are at it, don't miss the divine recipes in the cookbook. One of my favorite recipes is Marie Neel's Kahlua Cheesecake on page 299.

I know it is not a diet recipe, but with some slight variations it can be transformed into a low-fat wonder!

Keep your eye out... in future postings I'll be sharing some of the yummy Winner's Weightloss cheesecake recipes on this blog.

Only Two Things: Results and Excuses

A sudden silence fell across the table, then after a brief pause the conversation continued.

"So what did you tell him?"

"I told him that his calls were harassment and that if they didn't cease, I would report him."

"Obviously, he didn't take you serious. He has called all week. "

"That is the way a commercial collection agency works. Their objective is to collect their client's money. Fortunately, there are laws to protect people from threatening phone calls."

"Good! Because this stress is wrecking havoc on my diet."

"Don't let the stress be your excuse. There are only two things in life: results and excuses!"

Mango Madness

Down here in Florida where the mangos grow... the inspirations for good heart-healthy cookery are a-plenty.

While mangos don't actually grow in my backyard, they grow in abundance further south.

During mango season, you'll find the fruit of these juicy treasures showing up in everything from tropical salsas and frozen cocktails during happy hour to playing the staring role for delicious grand finales at the dessert hour.

Yes, they are delicious when used in synergy with other ingredients... they are equally delightful to eat the just picked fruit from a tree and let the nectar trickle down your chin!

Photo Credit: Ajay Singh & SXC

Beauty and Health The Scandinavian Way

"The Scandinavian female is in tune with nature. She thinks French perfume is divine, but give her one that wafts of pine needles and she'll drench herself with it. A magnum of champagne has its allure-but so does a pitcher of fresh milk. Stepping out of bed onto a fur rug is groovy, but so is wading at the edge of the sea." ~ Gale Knutson

Sitting on my desk is my cherished copy circa 1969 of this fabulous book on Beauty and Health the Scandinavian Way. Scandinavia... known for Finnish women with pink and white complexions, snow-capped mountains, and modern desks.

Photo Credit: Ajay Singh & SXC

Feather-Light Angel Food

Looking for a light dessert to take to a party?

Store-bought or home-made Angel Food cake is feather light and fat free. Just top with some fat free cool whip and a medley of fresh berries. Yum!

Whip it up in your indoor or outdoor kitchen.

Photo Credit: Ajay Singh & SXC

Stop Fretting Over What Others Think!

While dining at a quaint and obscure little restaurant off the beaten path, I overheard the following conversation.

"Set yourself apart from the rest. Don't be afraid to make the changes that will propel your life to where you want to go."

"You speak wise words. But I worry too much what others think."

"You must stop fretting over what other people will think. Follow the light within. Get help for your addiction. For as long as your addiction has its ugly claws in you, you will fail to achieve your greatest potential. "

"Then you think I should go into the drug rehab program?"

"Absolutely! I want to see you launch into the stratosphere!"

As I heard the conversation that played out at the nearby table, I considered my own addiction to sugar and carbs and realized that no matter what our addictions might happen to be, ultimately these addictions shackle us to a bondage of inferiority and keep us from realizing our fullest potential.

The Secret To Today's Lunch

The heady perfume of fresh marjoram perfumed the house as the chicken and summer vegetables roasted in the oven.

My mouth watered in anticipation of lunch, a lunch that would help the scale inch down.

The secret to today's lunch is the chicken noodle soup supplement that gently baths the chicken and chunky vegetables and infuses flavor without the addition of fat. The marjoram adds just the right fragrance to this savory treat.

A Sweet Diversion

Born out of a rainforest of rare flowers with rich and luxurious notes....

Ah, what is it about chocolate that casts such a spell upon me? One thing I love about the Winner's Weightloss program is my weekly indulgence in a specially formulated chocolate mint confection.

A sweet diversion along the bumpy road of life.

Exclamation Point Living

"Exclamation Point Living" is a term that defines a great approach to every day living.

Why not live a life of excitement and passion for the things that sing out in your soul? Why purr when you long to roar?

I think feeling good about ourselves is linked to how we feel about our bodies. A subject that can often be shrouded in mystery that most certainly deserves a true excavation to unearth the whys of how one has come to let their body keep them from achieving their biggest dreams and desires for their lives.

Let's get proactive! Whether it is signing up for a monitored weight loss program like the Winner's Weightloss program that I'm on or doing weight watchers or simply investing in some effective diet pills.

Whatever manner you choose to lose weight and reclaim a healthy and attractive body, Exclamation Point Living is sure to come more naturally!

Nothing Fits!

Losing weight opens up all sorts of new fashion options. The time has come for me to clean out my dresser drawers and closets. Nothing fits!

The saying "I havn't a thing to wear," certainly applies to my life right now!

Even my panties are huge. Now I wouldn't ordinarily talk about lingerie, except for some inexplicable reason I received a blog assignment for the keywords crotchless panty.

Oh dear!

I debated long and hard whether or not to reject the assignment and send it back. But then I thought we all have different motivations for losing weight and who knows maybe being able to look hot in one's undergarments is just the incentive a reader might need to stay motivated to lose weight in this Sex and The City era.

Delicious Ingredients

On a few occasions, following a story and certain recipe in my newspaper column, I have discovered that the article has caused a run on a featured ingredient at the grocery store. Lesson learned... I always stock up on that special ingredient that I am writing about before the article comes out!

"I don't understand why the shelf is empty. Figs must be very popular right now," the grocer said to me as he scratched his head.

I shrugged my shoulders and smiled graciously. One for Kathi... I thought. Could my food column actually sway buying decisions? Who would think that from the isolated keyboard where I sit and hunt and peck with my two fingertips, that stories would emerge and end up influencing what someone might eat for dinner or serve for a special celebration.

Well I need to jaunt on over to Lake Ella right now and see what delicious seasonal produce our local growers have brought to town for the weekly Wednesday Growers Market, featuring treasures from mother nature. Check back and see what I discovered.

Omelette Party

Lori from the Tallahassee Winner's Weightloss recently shared this novel idea with me for making ziplock omelets.

I can't wait to try it out. Supposedly it works great whether you are prepping for one or an entire family.

The idea inspired me to think this recipe could be a great launching pad for an Omelette Party.

In my catering days, we would occasionally cater fancy high-end brunches complete with omelette stations, but my goodness that takes alot of work and labor, which is lovely if the client has the budget to meet the cost.

As a savvy entertainer, I look for ways to create the wow without breaking the bank.

Maybe an Omelette Party could be just the solution for a great late morning soiree. If you want to add some drama- why not cook those ziplock bags in big bubbling pots of boiling H2O over an outdoor fire. Of course for simplicity the kitchen range is ideal.

1. Write names on quart size ziplock bags.

2. Put out a variety of chopped and prepped ingredients such as cheeses, ham, onion, vegetables, spinach, artichokes, green pepper, hash browns, salsa etc.

3. Crack 2 eggs into each ziplock bag and shake to combine.

4. Have guests add prepared ingredients to their bags and shake. Make sure to get all the air out of the bags and zip them up.

5. Place the bags into roiling, boiling for exactly 13 minutes.

Find Out The Secrets To How Kathi Lost 75 Pounds

Local food writer and culinary artist, Kathi Dameron will be doing 2 thirty minute low-fat food demonstrations/ cooking classes on Thursday, August 30 at Winner's Weightloss on Capital Circle in Tallahassee.

Call Ruth at (850) 671-3200 for details, directions and to reserve a spot. Space is limited.

Find out some of the secrets as to how Kathi has lost 75 pounds!

This event is sponsored by Winner's Weightloss, Tallahassee's Number 1 Weight Loss Center for 14 years and Kathi Dameron and Associates, a Florida-based boutique consulting company that specializes in culinary collaborations.

Ah, The Joy of Locally Grown Produce

"No satisfaction is more elemental, more vital to well-being, than the pleasure we seek in what we eat." ~ Mireille Guiliano, Author of the # 1 best seller " French Women Don't Get Fat" and "French Women For All Seasons"

With this thought in mind, I begin planning out a menu that is seasonally-inspired and a celebration of the late August bounty not in the countryside of Provence, but the rural regions and urban gardens of North Florida and South Georgia.

For it is from this geographic region that the luscious, locally grown products find their way onto my menus.

This afternoon I will jaunt to the local growers market at Lake Ella for inspiration for my upcoming cooking class and for nature's treasures to sustain me.

Geting Back In The Swing of Life

Now that I've dropped 75 pounds through the Winner's Weightloss program, I'm looking forward to diving into lots of new recreational activities. Time permitting I hope to get back in the swing of things this autumn and tee off to some exciting days at the country club.

But somewhere in the craziness of the last ten years of my life, I lost track of my golf clubs. Guess I'll have to shop for some new Ping or Callaway golf clubs this fall.

Need Tickets?

"But daddy you said I could go to the concert!"

Flashing me a thunderous look, I knew I was hang gliding over a watershed and heading into the eye of a twister.

So read the words from the August 16, 2007 installment of the Entertaining with Kathi column.

Ah, concerts. Need tickets? Need schedules?Looking for the def leppard tour schedule? Find it here at Ticket Solutions!

Fire Pit Cookery

Cooking on location, whether in the backyard, the beach or some exotic location offers delicious solutions to even the strictest of dieters among us.

There is something about cooking over an open flame. That fire-grilled depth of flavor that certainly adds no calories, but evokes a character and richness near-impossible to achieve through tamer methods of cookery.

The outdoor fireplace can be used for heat and the drama of fire pit cookery.

It's the little things that can be the most frustrating. Things like missing cabinet hardware from a desk drawer. And before you know it perhaps you are wanting to sink your spoon into a pint of mint chocolate chip.

Don't do it! Take care of the little petty nuisances along the way and chances are your weightloss will progress nicely.

"Quality of life" is probably the number one reason that I embarked on this weightloss adventure.

We are not properly educated in the consequences of food in our bodies. We focus far too much on the flavor. But I think we need to understand what food does to our organs.

If we keep eating the rich, sugary, fat-laden foods that are such a part of the national diet, then we better beef up on our term life insurance!

Here it is Saturday night and I'm home finishing up writing assignments. While a low-fat dinner is roasting in the oven I'm trying to fire up my creative juices. But I'm drawing a blank for the word blinds.

My mind is in R & R mode and for the life of me, after this long and grueling week, I can not even begin to think of how to tie window blinds to a diet blog.

Then out of the inexplicable depths of the imagination it happens, a story begins to unfold.

I jump up from my cushy black leather executive swivel computer chair and leap to the darkened window, yanking the cord on the blinds, they fall with pure precision over the windows.

Accessories are a great gift for family and friends who are engaged in weight loss. My favorite accessories include animal jewelry and zebra or tiger print scarves.

No matter what your size, fashionable costume pieces are always in good taste and will be a fun part of a wardrobe through all stages of the diet.

"I am woman... hear me roar!"

Clocks, hamilton watches, the speedometer on a car are just three of the devices I have used to gauge measurement in creative ways.

Have you ever driven down the street and watched the numbers rise and fall on your dashboard and serendipitously correlated the numbers to the weight you would like to lose? I have.

I find all sorts of creative games to help me.

Going on vacation when you are on a diet can be a real challenge.

You certainly don't want to deprive yourself of the opportunity to sample the regional cuisine, but on the other hand you don't want to mess up all the hard work you've put in to drop weight.

So what do you do.

If possible get a flavor of the cuisine in advance. Surf the internet. For example if you are going to Branson Missouri, check out the eateries online that showcase their menus. Be savvy. Look for regional cuisine that is interesting but light.

Bon Voyage!

This is another post for my work as a blogger, that has nothing to do with my diet.

The assignment was listed as New York personal injury lawyer.

I scanned my brain for relevant material. A vision of an ambulance-chaser appeared.

Uggh, I thought.

I don't know diddly squat about this type of law and certainly hope that I never need to. But if you are in the great state of New York and find yourself in need of the services of this sort of attorney, then check out the link for more information.

My work as a paid blogger for various products takes me to all sorts of products that I might not have any idea about. Such was the case with this assignment for disposable medical products.

So click on the link and you are bound to learn everything you ever wanted to know about incontinence products but were afraid to ask!

This diet has taken me to a new adventure. After a few years of soloing it on weekends,with carbs for companions, I've decided to get out and date a bit.

For my fiftieth birthday I treated myself to a subscription on match. Dating at fifty is fun!

While my interest is primarily in Tallahassee, which makes more sense to me to date locally, it might be fun to find friends in out-of-town places that I might like to visit for weekend getaways. For example the Ozarks would be fun. Maybe I could find a Float Date and check out the Branson real estate.