Taste of Thyme: Good & Good for You Food

I kept hearing people talk about brownies with black beans. Unfortunately, no ome could give me a recipe or had actually tasted them! So I started looking around for ideas or recipes. I came across a funny conversation on a Weight Watcher discussion page and came up with a simple idea to try. I liked the results a lot. I got a really moist brownie that was really chocolaty. I decided to take them to a party (they were a huge hit) but I dressed them up a little bit. Here's what I did: CHOCOLATE BLACK BEAN BROWNIES 1 box brownie mix 1 15 oz can black beans (NOT drained) 3 Tablespoons cocoa powder 1 teaspoon instant coffee Blend the beans (and the liquid), instant coffee, and cocoa in a blender until smooth. Empty the contents of your mix into a bowl. Add the bean mixture and mix by hand until smooth. Bake as directed on the package. Mine, cut into 24 pieces, were 1 point each. This will vary depending on the mix you use and the beans. You'll have to do the math. To dress...

I hear Weight Watcher members talk about metabolism a lot! The problem is we usually talk about it without really understanding what it is and how much control we have over it. Here is some information from Weight Watchers that can clear up some of those things we might believe (or not). METABOLISM...is the number of calories the body burns: ♦ At rest ♦ By digesting and absorbing food ♦ During physical activity What is TRUE about Metabolism? 1. If I have a slow metabolism I have to just work with that. Increasing physical activity, especially strength / resistance training to minimize loss of lean muscle mass will increase your metabolism. Eating a well balanced diet (vitamins & some minerals are required for metabolism)and smaller more frequent meals will increase your metabolism. 2. We can’t stop the slowing of our metabolism due to age. Aging lowers metabolism only because people tend to be less active and may not maintain their muscle mass. 3. The body goes into ‘starvatio...

These are the truth about carbs that we discussed last week at Weight Watcher meetings. Below is a potato soup full of good carbs - ENJOY! MYTH # 1: All carbohydrates are created equal. There are two main types of carbohydrates: simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates (simple sugars) include: • table sugar (sucrose), which is plentiful in soda and candy • fructose and lactose, which are found in healthier foods such as fruit and milk, which supply other nutrients Complex carbohydrates , "starches": • are found in foods like breads, legumes, rice, pasta, fruits, and vegetables such as potatoes. • take longer to digest and can help you feel more satisfied. • contain many more nutrients than simple carbohydrates. As with simple carbohydrates, some complex carbs are healthier than others. ∗ Whole grain versions of complex carbohydrates include oatmeal, bulgur, brown rice, whole cornmeal, quinoa, spelt, foods made with whole wheat, etc. Opt for whole ...

4 medium russet potatoes, scrubbed and diced 2 large leeks, cleaned and sliced 1 onion, diced Salt and Pepper to taste 6 cups vegetable or chicken broth cooking spray Heat a 4 quart stockpot or dutch oven over medium heat. Spray with cooking spray and add the leeks and onions. When onion softens (about 4 minutes) add the potatoes to heat through. Add the broth, salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Cook 30 minutes or until the potatoes are completely tender. Puree the soup in batches in a blender or food processor. Adjust the seasonings to taste. Each one cup serving is only 1 point. You may want to garnish with chives or scallions and a dollop of plain yogurt.