Cabbage Soup - and the Diet

Have you heard of the Cabbage Soup Diet? It's been around for 10 years or so now and probably isn't in the top ten of popular (or fad) diets anymore, but the cabbage soup recipe is still a good one. I've been hungry for cabbage soup for a while and, since fall has officially arrived, it's soup season once again and I'm anxious to make a pot. I eat the soup because I like it. Haven't tried the diet, but I'm actually thinking about doing that, starting soon. More about the diet later but, first, here's my mom's version of the recipe.

Cabbage Soup (of Cabbage Soup Diet fame) - Mom's Version

6 large onions
1/3 to one whole head of cabbage
2 green peppers
1 can diced tomatoes
1 bunch celery
1 package Lipton onion or beefy onion soup
2 cubes bouillon
Season to taste - pepper, Mrs. Dash, parsley, etc. (we use lots of pepper)

Simply chop the vegetables and combine in a large pot with about 12 cups of water, or V8 and water. Boil gently for 10 minutes. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender. Eat as much as you like. It won't add calories.

You can vary the recipe some, such as adding carrots and mushrooms. The diet is one that promises to help you lose up to 10 pounds in a week, and apparently it does work. I figure I can stick to just about anything for a week. Rest assured, you do eat more than just cabbage soup every day, but the soup is what keeps you from getting hungry. There's a different group of foods that you eat with the soup each of the seven days. Rather than reprinting the entire diet here, I'll refer you to this website which gives the official version of the recipe, explains the seven-day plan, and discusses the pros and cons.

If you try the cabbage soup diet, or if you have tried it in the past, leave us a comment and let us know how it worked for you.

Hubby's Favorite Oatmeal Cookies

My husband loves these oatmeal cookies with raisins and I love how quick and easy they are to mix up and bake.

Favorite Oatmeal Cookies

1/2 cup margarine or butter (1 stick), softened
1 egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1 cup raisins or chocolate chips or craisins or other dried fruit

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Put softened butter in a large bowl. Using mixer, beat for about 30 seconds. Add the egg, flour, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and baking soda to the margarine. Beat on medium speed about 2 minutes or until well mixed, scraping sides of the bowl as needed. Stir in oats and raisins, chocolate chips, or dried fruit (or a combination) with a wooden spoon. Use two teaspoons to drop the cookie dough 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until brown. Makes about 40 small cookies. (I make mine a bit bigger and get 24 to 30, baking about 12 minutes.)

This recipe is a variation of one from one of my favorite cookbooks, New Junior Cookbook (Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen) which my son is using in the picture up in the corner of my blog (an older edition). I like recipes that are easy enough for a kid cook!

Supermarket Savings 101

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I'll admit it. This isn't a recipe; it's an advertisement. It's such a great deal, though, I had to share. Read on - and read fast because time is running out on the special. (If you miss it, the course will still be a great bargain at the regular price.)

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