Gulf Coast Family

by Leanne Ely (The Dinner Diva)

Hospitality isn’t something that is reserved just for friends and outside family. This delightful gift can be practiced in your own home — and right with your own spouse — no baby sitters necessary.

All you need is a picnic basket. Nothing fancy, just something you can put a large napkin or cloth in. Inside are all the makings for a picnic for two: silverware, plates, napkins and the food, of course. You might throw in some wine glasses and a bottle of sparkling cider to make it special. This is the basis for a Love Basket. I learned about Love Baskets from Emilie Barnes years ago.

Pack your Love Basket and surprise your spouse with it. Get the kids to bed early (or better yet, trade with another couple and let them take your children overnight — you take theirs another time).

You might want to make something special (that will pack) that your spouse likes for dinner that night or even get takeout if you want. The point is less the food and more the effort to make the night memorable. This is the kind of hospitality your spouse won’t easily forget! Take your Love Basket upstairs and picnic on the bed. I know your mamas told you to never eat in bed, but make the exception and watch the sparks fly!

Keeping our relationships from becoming cluttered and chaotic is a part of FLYing (Finally Loving Yourself). One of the ways to do this is by setting aside special time for that other person. If you’re a single parent, you can easily do this, too, for your children and picnic on the floor of your living room. The Love Basket communicates the fact that the person or people for whom the basket is packed, is/are special and loved.

Remember to keep it simple. The Love Basket is all about heart connections.

Mexican Stuffed Pitas – Serves 6

• 1/2 avocado, chopped
• 6 whole wheat pita bread
• 6 oz. cooked turkey, thinly sliced
• 2 cups lettuce, shredded
• 1 medium tomato, chopped
• 3/4 cup Monterey Jack cheese (3 oz.), shredded
• Creamy Salsa
• 3 tbs. low-fat sour cream
• 1 tbs. salsa (your favorite brand)
• 1 tbs. green onions, chopped

Mix all ingredients

Lay chopped avocado over pita breads. Top with turkey, lettuce, tomato and cheese. Top with Creamy Salsa. Sprinkle with chopped green onions, if desired.

Per serving: 314 calories; 10 grams total fat; (28 percent calories from fat); 18 grams protein; 3 grams fiber; 38 grams carbohydrate; 36 mg. cholesterol; 446 mg. sodium.

Food exchanges: 2 grain (starch); 1 1/2 lean meat; 1/2 vegetable; 0 fruit; 1 1 1/2 fat; 0 other carbohydrates

Leanne Ely, a.k.a Dinner Diva, is the author of the best-selling “Saving Dinner” and “Saving Dinner the Low Carb Way” (Ballantine). What’s for dinner? Go to www.savingdinner.com and find the solution! Copyright 2010; Leanne Ely Used by permission in this publication.