December 30, 2012 - The Gift of Health

GM all, Sorry about yesterday, I was battling a stomach virus. I am feeling better, especially when I don't eat. (wink) Today we can say we all survived 12.12.12! But, it did hail at our house and that was odd. :) As the staff at church blessed me with a beautiful Kitchen Aid for my birthday, I have been baking up a storm I am attaching a new strawberry cake and cream cheese icing recipe so you could use it at your holiday parties if you like. I am still working on the icing a wee bit. May delete the greek yogurt as it made the icing be less stiff than I thought. BUT, my husband loved it. I am well pleased with the cake, but as I said, you may need to play with the icing. I apologize for using a sugar free product, but occasionally I do. I wanted the color and I wanted the jello to hold the frozen strawberries in the mixture. Hope you enjoy making this. If you do, let me know. I really need some of my recipes tested as I am working towards the book being out in February. I am working every free moment I get. As we approach Christmas with all the beauty and majesty, let's remember that some people are smiling at the parties while crying on the inside. That was ME! Maybe our friends and families are trapped in the same prison cell we once were and don't have a clue where the key is. I remember dreading the Christmas season as I knew I would be gaining weight, smiling and partying, and slapping myself as I looked in the mirror daily. Not a happy memory, huh? Can I recommend a gift for you and your family? What about the gift of health! Make a healthy cake and bless someone; make some sugar free whipped cream and buy a pound of coffee with a small box of truvia. You can never tell who will grab that creative, healthy gift and decide that you are their hero. And, they may make the health choice, as you have, and their family be touched. Now isn't that a cool gift? So make a healthy snack and share - you never know who's future you're affecting. As you wrap those gifts and make your family and friends smile, remember a toy may break, new clothes will wear out, but helping someone realize that eating healthy can be yummy and the holidays can be healthy is a gift that may add years to their life. Smile and help someone today. PK