Just got the spam...from Sweden. The names were "Lotta" (wife) and "Lars" (husband/researcher). Hmmm...sounds like "lotta liars" to me! Anyway, I am not overweight at all, but do live healthy. The last 13 weeks I was on the "Body for Life" program by EAS...consisting of Myoplex shakes (protein), healthy meals (6 small meals a day), 100+ oz. water a day and exercise. Surprisingly, I lost 10lbs! (went from 112 lbs to 102) I really didn't think I could/needed to lose any weight, but I did. Some people think the 2-3 shakes I had a day was weird, but it provided my body with the nutrients and protein it needed to build/maintain muscle and keep my body from eating the muscle it was trying to build. Before I started this program, I would come in to work and not even eat until 1pm. Some people think that skipping meals will help lose weight...it might not add any extra fat or sugar to your diet, but not eating anything is often worse than eating. Your body will eat away at your muscle and your metabolism will go into starvation mode and hold onto all fat you put into it...thinking it might need it to survive later on. Because of that, I would NOT recommend only eating 3 bananas a day (see some peoples emails above), or 3 of only one anything a day. Perhaps this bread does offer the nutrients your body needs to maintain itself, which is much better than starving it. It would be a great thing to have in the morning rather than skipping breakfast. But I would not make up a diet solely of bread. Also, the person who said "Wheat is very bad for somebody trying to lose weight...even ONE cracker made with wheat can stop weight loss in its tracks" is RIDICULOUS! Maybe if you are sitting on your butt hoping that not eating a few things will be the miracle to help you lose 10 lbs...but in reality, wheat bread, crackers, ect. have more protein, fiber, and nutrients than those without. Your muscles crave protein and nutrients and once you activate and build muscle, you will burn a TON more fat/calories than by just altering your diet a bit. I'm not saying become a musclehead (I am not one at all), I am just saying that wheat is very healthy AND will help you burn fat...lose weight. It's kinda like those people who think if you drink 120 oz. of water in a day you will be retaining a lot of water, but in actuality, if you try this, you will feel much thinner at then end of the day...your shoes won't feel so tight and your wedding ring might even spin around your finger. Try it sometime...ps, the more you do it the less you have to run to the bathroom, your body gets use to it. And finally, why would you think the only recipe that makes sense is the flour, salt & water only one. 2,000 years isn't THAT long ago. Remember the Bible stories and the last supper picture (no, I am NOT a Bible thumper, just making an observation). They had bread back then...and it isn't suprising that they learned to add nuts, dates, raisins, or spices to bread. ...

Carrot Cake 6 egg whites or 1 cup egg substitute 1 cup apple juice concentrate 2/3 cup canola or safflower oil 1/4 cup water 3 cups unbleached white flour 1 Tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon lite (or regular) salt 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 2 cups raisins 2 cups carrots (4-6 medium) Cream Cheese Icing 1 1/2 cups light cream cheese 1 1/2 Tablespoons margarine, softened 16 packets Equal® (16 grams NutraSweet®; each packet equaling sweetness of 2 teaspoons sugar) 2 teaspoons vanilla 0-2 Tablespoons 1% milk to thin frosting Full recipes at http://www.teleport.com/~jbdubois/carrot_cake.shtml Here is a link that might be useful: Sugar-free wedding cake

Another testimony to the fact that since going low carb my DH's GERD has been greatly reduced. But that isn't the solution for everyone. Different foods will trigger different reactions in different people. One of my DH's worst is anything with cooked tomatoes. I do feel for him, but it is really embarrassing to eat a meal in a nice restaurant and then have him deposit it in the gutter just before we get into the car. Not to mention, unappetizing, and a complete waste of money. I don't sound very sympathetic, do I? And who among you has been pulled from a dead sleep by being vomited upon? Sometimes it hits him so quickly that he doesn't have time to even turn his head away. As I age, I also have found that there are certain foods I should avoid. But he just doesn't seem to remember the connection. If he wants it, he eats it, and we both pay the price later. There are lots of medications available that can take care of some of the symptoms, and he takes prilosec, but my vote is for intelligent eating. Sorry if I grossed you out, I guess I needed to vent.

Très Grand Pommes Anna Source of Recipe Cooks Illustrated November 2000 Recipe Introduction Très Grand Pommes Anna ..... In this variation of Pommes Anna for Home Cooks (November/December 2000), a few extra tablespoons of butter and oil make this classic dish even more rich and decadent. Do not slice the potatoes until you are ready to start assembling. Remember to start timing when you begin arranging the potatoes in the skillet no matter how quickly you arrange them, they will need 30 minutes on the stovetop to brown properly. Serves 8 to 10 List of Ingredients 4 1/2 pounds russet, Yukon Gold, or white potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/16- to 1/8-inch thick 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 1/2 cup vegetable or peanut oil, plus additional for greasing cookie sheet Salt and ground black pepper Recipe 1. Toss potato slices with melted butter in large bowl until potatoes are evenly coated. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. 2. Pour oil into 12-inch heavy-bottomed ovenproof nonstick skillet; swirl to coat pan bottom and set skillet over medium-low heat. Begin timing and arranging potato slices starting in center of skillet. Sprinkle potatoes evenly with scant 1/4 teaspoon salt and ground black pepper to taste. Arrange second layer of potatoes working in opposite direction of first layer; sprinkle evenly with scant 1/4 teaspoon salt and ground black pepper. Repeat layering potatoes in opposite directions and sprinkling with salt and pepper until no slices remain (broken or uneven slices can be pieced together to form a single slice; potatoes will mound in center of skillet); continue to cook over medium-low heat until 30 minutes elapses from the time you began arranging potatoes in skillet. 3. Using bottom of 9-inch cake pan, press potatoes down firmly to compact. Cover skillet and place in oven. Bake until potatoes begin to soften, about 20 minutes. Uncover and continue to bake until potatoes are tender when paring knife is inserted in center and edge of potatoes near skillet is browned, about 10 minutes longer. Meanwhile, line rimless cookie sheet or back of baking sheet with foil and coat very lightly with oil. Drain off excess fat from potatoes by pressing potatoes into skillet with bottom of cake pan while tilting skillet to pour off fat. 4. Set foil-lined cookie sheet on top of skillet. With hands protected by oven mitts or potholders, hold cookie sheet in place with one hand and carefully invert skillet and cookie sheet together. Remove skillet. Carefully slide potatoes onto platter; cut into wedges and serve immediately. *************** Great Latkes Latkes are traditionally eaten at Hanukkah, but they're a treat anytime you've got a craving for crispy, savory potato pancakes. Recipe Let's start with the heart of every latke: the potatoes. For the best results, use russet potatoes. This variety is high in starch, and the starch is necessary to help the latke mixture stick together and form pancakes that don't fall apart. Most people choose to peel the potatoes before making latkes with them, but this is entirely a matter of taste. Leaving the potato skin on will add color and texture to your pancakes. If you leave the skin on, be sure to scrub the potatoes thoroughly with a vegetable brush. If you do peel them, though, be sure to keep them under water between peeling and shredding to prevent them from oxidizing. (Oxidation is what's happening when potatoes start turning unappetizing shades of pinkish-brown and gray.) Once your potatoes are either scrubbed or peeled, get all the rest of your ingredients ready; you'll need to work fairly quickly to get the mixture ready before the potatoes change color. Latkes are traditionally made with a potatoes and onions, but there's no rule that says you have to make them the same every time. Jazz them up by shredding in sweet potatoes, apples, carrots, garlic, parsnips or zucchini. Just be sure that the majority of the mixture still consists of potatoes; other vegetables do not contain enough starch on their own to make the mixture stick together. Just Grate! Have the onions and any other veggies trimmed and peeled, have a piece of cheesecloth ready and waiting, and measure out the other ingredients your recipe calls for, such as matzo meal or flour, baking powder, eggs, cheese and seasonings. Now get ready to shred! If you have a food processor with a shredder attachment, this will make the process go faster, but a good old-fashioned hand-held grater will perform the job with flying colors too. Alternate the potato with the onion and other vegetables while you shred in order to keep the potatoes from oxidizing too quickly. (And keep a tissue nearby -- those onion fumes can really get to you!) If you want lacy latkes with rough, crispy edges, shred those potatoes coarsely. If you prefer denser latkes with smooth edges, use the fine side of the grater. Squeeze your Spuds Now for one of the most important parts of the latke-making process: squeezing out the potatoes. Wet, juicy potatoes make for soggy, greasy latkes that fall apart in the pan because wet items will not brown well in oil. The potatoes need to be dry and the oil needs to be good and hot, so that the exterior of the latke will quickly sear to a crispy finish and prevent the thing from absorbing too much grease. To squeeze out the potato mixture, place it in a piece of cheesecloth and squeeze it out with brute force. When you cannot get any more liquid out, open up the cheesecloth, stir the mixture around a little, and then squeeze it some more. Empty the contents of the cheesecloth into a mixing bowl and mix in the remaining ingredients. If you're using matzo meal, let the mixture sit for a few minutes in order to allow the matzo to soak up any remaining liquid. Now it's time for the part we've all been waiting for: the frying! Fry Away! Heat up a pan with vegetable oil 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep. When the oil has reached a temperature of about 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), it's time to fry! If you don't have a deep-fat thermometer, you can test the temperature of the oil by dropping a small amount of latke mixture into the pan. If it turns golden brown within one minute, the oil is ready. Form the latkes by carefully placing spoonfuls of the mixture into the hot oil, then flattening the mounds with a spatula. Fry until nicely browned on the bottom, then flip the latkes with a spatula and brown the other side. Drain the latkes on paper towels and serve them immediately if possible. If you aren't able to serve them right away, keep them in the oven at 200 degrees F (95 degrees C) on a pan or platter. To keep them nice and crispy, don't stack them up, and refrain from covering them. Now dish up some applesauce and sour cream and get ready to savor the best latkes you've ever made! ***************** Potatoes in Herbed Cream Recipe Link: source:"The Herbfarm Cookbook" by Jerry Traunfeld (Scribner, $40). Just homey scalloped potatoes, really, but with generous quantities of whole herb sprigs steeped in the cream. The technique of infusion works perfectly here. In addition to being fast, it allows just the right amount of flavor to be released into the cream, which in turn is absorbed by the potatoes, making them taste as if they were grown deep in an herb bed. This recipe is highly indulgent, using whole milk, cream, and butter. If you must, feel free to substitute low-fat milk and half & half for the milk and cream, but it won't be nearly as delicious. 1 cup whole milk 1/2 cup heavy cream 4 cloves garlic 3 4-inch sprigs fresh marjoram or Italian oregano 2 4-inch sprigs fresh rosemary 3 4-inch sprigs fresh thyme 1 2-inch sprig fresh sage 6 fresh bay laurel leaves, torn, or 2 dried plus 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 3/4 teaspoon salt Freshly ground black pepper to taste 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened 2 large russet (Idaho) potatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds) Recipe Place the milk and cream in a small saucepan over medium heat. Smash the garlic cloves with the side of a chef's knife and remove the peels. When the milk and cream are boiling, add the garlic, herb sprigs, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture back to a boil, then immediately remove it from the heat, cover, and let steep for 30 minutes or longer while you prepare the potatoes. Gratin. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Butter a shallow 1 1/2 -quart baking dish with 1 tablespoon of the butter. Peel the potatoes, slice them 1/8 inch thick and arrange them in the dish. Bring the herbed cream back to a simmer. Hold a large fine sieve over the baking dish and pour the cream through it and over the potatoes, coating all the slices. The liquid will not completely cover the potatoes at this point. Dot with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Bake until the top is nicely browned and the potatoes are tender, 30 to 35 minutes. Halfway through the cooking, use the back of a large spoon to lightly press down any potatoes that are not yet submerged into the cream. Makes 4 servings.