A Guitar, A Rotary Phone and a Delicious Good Time!

Check out this spread from The Best of Weight Watchers Magazine 1974.



Can someone please help me understand what is going on here? Has this feast been prepared for some twisted tweener party? Or perhaps it is a potluck dinner gone horribly wrong?

Let's take a closer look...

First we have the Apple and Franks Karachi--baked apples stuffed with diced frankfurter and sprinkled with curry powder. Exotic! Bet you can't eat just one!


Next up is Teentimers Tuna--these tuna roll-ups are combined with.. what else.. pimentos and dehydrated onion flakes! Better hurry up and grab one, because these babies won't last!


Finally--behold the Buttermilk Berserk! This monster gelatine mold is made from 1 quart of buttermilk, lemon juice, allspice, and of course - lots of bright yellow food coloring. Aren't you just dying to try a nice big chunk of this dietetic disaster?


Grab a plate and dig in! Or grab a guitar and start playing! Or someone please grab that teal phone and call 9-1-1!

I wonder why things started getting really scary in 1974? Is it possible that the Weight Watchers recipe developers were getting just a wee bit bored and had become way too creative? I mean, there's only so much you can do with tuna, pimentos, Knox gelatine and celery on a daily basis.

Don't worry folks, I'll be heading back to the safety and comfort of 1972 for my Easter Feast! Stay tuned...

Jean's Butterfly Salad Toppers

Since gigantic bowls of iceberg lettuce are permitted in unlimited amounts on the Retro WW program, who wouldn't want to eat mounds & mounds of lettuce at every chance they can get? BUT--Are you tired of staring at that same boring salad every single day?

Why not shake things up by topping your salad with a tasty Lepidopteran fashioned out of a pineapple ring, green pepper and pimento? What a great way to surprise your guests at your next ladies luncheon...or a creative way to get those kiddies to eat their vegetables.

Who says dieting has to be boring?

Holy Mackerel

Having just returned from a weekend trip to my cousin's wedding in Northern Virginia, I must confess two things:

1. I am not in the mood to cook today, and
2. I fell off the Retro WW Wagon. Hard.

No worries, though. Tomorrow is another day, and I am well stocked up on tuna, celery and cottage cheese.

While flipping through my retro WW magazines for some motivation & inspiration, I came across this recipe and felt the need to share. This recipe (from The Best of Weight Watchers Magazine, 1974) truly embodies all things Retro WW... fish balls nestled inside a cantaloupe topped with sliced gherkins and generously sprinkled with dehydrated onion flakes. MMMM! My taste buds are zinging!

So enjoy the rest of your weekend, and behold the awesomeness that is Mackerel-Cantaloupe Salad.

For the Love of Celery

Growing up as a child in the 1970's, I spent a lot of time with my grandmothers. They were both amazing women who helped shaped who I am today. I also loved visiting them because of the fun food I got to eat at their houses.

Now I know that most kids looked forward to the fresh baked cookies or apple pies they got to eat during their visits to grandma's house. But not me. I used to get super-duper excited about the crudite. That's right--I am a freak. I wanted raw veggies. Every time I went to visit my grandma, she would make up a special platter (just for me) of fluted celery, radish roses, sliced cucumbers, carrots and broccoli. And I would gobble down the entire thing.

My favorite part was the fancy celery. She used to make it special with the ends ruffled like so:


To this day I have no idea why I loved raw vegetables so much as a child, but I still credit my grandma with my love for crudite to this day. And I feel very fortunate that I have the ability to chow down an entire bunch of celery instead of a bag of chips when I have the urge to binge. This is a key weight loss skill that has come in handy for me on many an occasion.

But the question is: Could my love of celery withstand the next Retro WW Recipe experiment -- Celery Parmigiana?

It sounded simple enough. Cut up 3 cups of celery into 3inch pieces and boil in some chicken broth until tender. Then transfer 1/2 the celery into a small casserole and top with thickened tomato juice, mozzerella cheese and onion powder. Repeat layers and top it off with a sprinkle of parmesan. Bake at 400F for 15 minutes until bubbly.





Because I was pressed for time, I had to bake this dish in the morning before going to work and then cover it up & put it away for my evening dinner. I waited in suspense all day wondering what this interesting celery casserole would taste like.

The hours crept by, until I finally made it home to my Celery Parmigiana. I eagerly tore off the plastic wrap and placed one single portion on my plate. The moments seemed to drag as I waited for the dish to heat in the microwave. Then, at long last...DING! It was done, and I was finally ready to sample my celery bliss.



As I chewed on the first bite, I realized that it tasted... just...... like.........

Cooked celery topped with tomato juice and cheese.

Well that was anti-climactic.

I was so hungry I ate the entire casserole. But I think I'll just stick to raw celery next time and save myself the trouble.

Best. Day. Ever.

Look what I got today!!!



That's right...6 vintage issues of Weight Watchers Magazine circa 1971-1973. These little treasures are complete with hundreds of "legal" recipes in full color, great retro weight loss articles, an advice column by Jean Nidetch and many, many awesome weight loss product ads. I can barely contain myself.

My Retro WW world just got a little more colorful. Beware.

She Took the "L" Out of Flab...

...That's how Jean Nidetch, founder of Weight Watchers, was introduced on one of her first television appearances back in the 1970's.



I am now on my 3rd read of her autobiography, and yes--my admiration for her has grown to stalker proportions. OK, not really, but I will admit that my #1 goal in life is to meet her in person. That's not stalker-ish is it?

Please allow me to share one of my favorite anecdotes from her autobiography, The Jean Nidetch Story:

I was on a panel once at which everyone else had a card in front of them with initials like PhD., M.D., M.S.N., R.D., and so on. I felt funny that I had no initials after my name, so I picked up my name card and wrote "F.F.H." after "Jean Nidetch". When I was asked what it stood for, I said, "Formerly Fat Housewife".

Come on, admit it. You love her too.

Anyway, just in case you are interested, there was a great article about Jean in the USAToday this morning. Enjoy!

Oh--by the way, I am currently working on my next retro WW recipe. It is Celery Parmigiana. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream...

Any armchair psychoanalysts out there?

What could this depiction of last nights' dream possibly mean? Is 1970's feminist icon Bea Arthur trying to tell me something? Have I been following this Retro Diet too long? Perhaps it has just been too long since I have indulged in my favorite food? Could it be that a pizza close encounter of the third kind is going to occur in my not-too-distant future? Please help!



Want more Bea Arthur, Mountains & Pizza? Go here now. I have to thank one of my favorite WW buddies for turning me on to this groovy website. And yes--I do check it daily for updates.

What the Blank?

Below, I have re-posted 10 "Rules" of the 1972 WW Program (from a previous post). Eight of them are actual rules and two of them are totally fabricated by me, and have absolutely no validity. Before revealing the answers, I wanted to put these out there one more time--just in case you missed it.

Can you spot the phony WW rules? (Insert cheesy 1970's game show music here.)

1. You may have bread at meal-time only
2. Sardines are strictly prohibited
3. You must eat liver exactly once per week
4. No more than 6 ounces of coffee per day may be consumed
5. You may eat frog's legs 5 times per week, if desired
6. A banana can only be eaten one time per week
7. Eggs may NEVER be eaten for dinner
8. Mustard is permitted in unlimited amounts
9. Mayonnaise, oil or margarine must always be spread with a knife or spatula -- never brushed on
10. A cup of bouillon must be consumed before every meal

BONUS ROUND: Who can tell me the name of the famous game show personality pictured here? HINT: He was best friends with Jean Nidetch. (True story.)

We All Scream for Iced "Cream"

If you are a follower of the Retro WW Experiment, you may have noticed by now that I use an over-abundance of quotation marks throughout this blog to describe the dishes I prepare. For example: "catsup", "pie", "jelly", "highball" and "pastry". Please allow me to explain: When you see a recipe title or food surrounded by quotes in the 1972 Revised WW Program Cookbook, you can assume that what follows will not be the version of that food as it is commonly known -- but rather some re-engineered, pitiful substitute. Also---it usually involves some extremely labor-intensive method to produce a lighter yet much less palatable version.

This brings me to today's recipe: Iced "Cream"

To honor the first day of Spring, and also because I felt that this might be the one recipe my hubby would finally try, I decided to give it a whirl. Let me begin by saying that as an ice cream lover, I was highly skeptical. But Jean describes this recipe as having "scintillating" flavor, so I couldn't pass it up.

After mixing 1/4 teaspoon of knox unflavored gelatine in 1 tablespoon cold water and simultaneously heating 1/2 cup evaporated skim milk, I then mixed it all together to dissolve the gelatine. Once cooled, it was time to pull out the beater and whip the crap out of this thing. I mean really whip it. Whip it good. Throw in some vanilla extract and a few packets of artificial sweetener then stick it in the freezer and wait. Perhaps give yourself a manicure, because by the time your nails are dry--you've got Ice Cream!

Excuse me. Iced "Cream".



And for the record...it's pretty darn tasty.

Happy Spring! Now go get some real ice cream!

A Tragic Luncheon (In Two Acts)

"Do not divide the two parts of this luncheon. Egg whites of Act I and egg yolks of Act II must be consumed at the same meal." -Jean Nidetch

Was I ready for this? A two-part retro WW luncheon featuring 2 whole eggs split in a dramatic fashion between two separate dishes??

**Gasp**

I decided it was indeed time for a true challenge.

The 2 parts of this luncheon consist of a meringue-topped Vegetable Cheese Puff (made with the egg whites) and a Baked Cup Custard (made with the egg yolks). This recipes serves 2, but you guessed it -- the hubby turned me down once again!

The custard must be prepared first, because it is baked for an hour then chilled. It is made with 2 egg yolks, 2 cups skim milk, 3 teaspoons artificial sweetener, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract and a dash of nutmeg.



The Vegetable Puff was a bit more complicated and involved 4 cups pureed, cooked broccoli, 1 cup milk, bread crumbs, and 2 oz shredded cheese. This mixture is then baked in a casserole for about 15 minutes.



What's that? You want to know where the "puff" comes from? Well be patient darlings, because we're not finished yet! Remember... we still have the 2 egg whites that are anxiously waiting to take the stage. So we are gonna whip those suckers up with some Cream of Tartar and make a MERINGUE to top off our casserole. PUFF!



Then back in the oven for one final curtain call! Bravissimo!



My review: I enjoyed eating the Puff. However I didn't really feel the meringue topping was necessary, and it deflated anyway. The Custard never really solidified, so I ended up sipping it like a curdled milkshake. Two apathetic thumbs down.

Consider the Alternative...

Back in the 70's, Weight Watchers was not the only game in town, you know. There were other weight loss plans, and most of them were pretty weird. In fact, the more I think about it, my little Retro WW Experiment is pretty healthy and normal by comparison. Anyone remember this catastrophe?



I still have vague childhood memories of seeing these little gooey chocolate tabs and desperately wanting to eat one, but being told "NO! Those are for grown ups only!".

Due to obvious marketing challenges, this diet fell swiftly by the wayside in the mid-eighties.

But almost 50 years after its inception -- WW is still around. So they must be doing something right. Or perhaps they just picked a more fortuitous name?

"Twofer" Madness!

Hello Retro Friends! Can we talk about bread for a moment?

With the limited daily quota of bread on the 1972 WW Plan, women everywhere were forced to be uber-creative if they wanted a sandwich.

Sure, you could take the easy way out and just have yourself an open-faced sandwich. But what fun would that be?

If you really wanted to be crafty and have your sandwich between "2" slices of bread you could make yourself a TWOFER from one slice!

Allow me to explain...

Get a sharp serrated knife and cut your bread horizontally thus producing two very thin slices. Now you can go crazy and have and actual sandwich like the rest of the sandwich-eating world.

As Jean Nidetch states in the 1972 WW Revised Program Cookbook, "Doesn't it feel good to see bread on both sides of your sandwich?"

Now I am well aware that there are many types of low-calorie breads on the market today, but if I wanted to truly experience the Retro WW experience, I had to try this technique. So I grabbed a knife and went to work. Let me tell you--it's not as easy as it sounds.

Everything was going so well at first. You can see me here slowly making my first incision...


but about halfway through, things took an ugly turn, and I ripped a giant hole in the bread. Have I mentioned that patience is NOT one of my virtues?


After my 4th slice of mutilated bread, I pretty much bagged the entire effort and just ate the sandwich filling without any bread at all.

For the record: I won't be attempting anymore twofers.

'Cause You Gotta Have Friends...

Lately I have been listening to a lot of music from the 70's, because it inspires me and gets me in the mood for my retro cooking madness.

Anyway, this morning I heard one of my favorite songs from 1973--"Friends" by the Divine Miss M. (Bette Midler) and I had an epiphany!

Did you know that Jean Nidetch started WW in 1962 with 6 of her friends in her own living room? They met there once a week and talked about their weight struggles, dieting challenges and "dirty" little food secrets. None of them were doctors or nutritionists or psychologists. They were just friends.

Back then, there were no blogs, no internet, no message boards, no social networking--so it was really liberating and brave for these women to confess their eating compulsions and struggles in a public forum. It was truly unheard of for women to discuss such matters so openly. So--When Jean first told the group about her "closet cookie eating" and the fact that she hid cookies in the laundry hamper and woke up in the middle of the night to finish off those boxes of cookies then throw away the empty boxes early in the morning to destroy the evidence before anyone woke up---this was uncharted territory! Jean was making history with her shocking cookie confession and was setting the stage for the rest of us to follow suit.

The spirit of Jean is in all of us as we chronicle our journey to become thinner & healthier. So, this week, in Jean's honor--don't forget to thank your weight loss buddies (both virtual and real-life) and let them know how much they mean to you.

There are a few weight loss bloggers I would like to personally thank for their courage to share their journey so openly with the world. I am in awe of their willingness to put themselves out there (Jean would be so proud) and I consider them my virtual weight loss buddies, because I look forward to their very candid and entertaining posts regularly. In no particular order...

• Sheryl at *Bitchcakes* - She is a WW ROCKSTAR, and if you are not following her--you should be.
• Sue at Did I Just Eat That Out Loud? - This blog is so honest and real. There is even a wall where you can leave your own fears, stresses and worries. How cool is that?
• Helen at Doing a 180 - Very thought-provoking and always leaves me with something to ponder.
• Dana at Eat. Sleep. Get Fit. - Positive energy just oozes from this blog. I love that.

As for my "real-life" WW buddies---you know who you are and I think you are all awesome. Did you ever know that you're my heroes? OK, I'll stop now, because this is starting to get sappy, and I'm beginning to entangle my Bette Midler references...and we all know how painful that can be.

Sunday Breakfast - Retro Blueberry Latkes!

Shortly after I began this experiment, people started sending me lots of retro recipe requests from the 1972 WW program. I love the nostalgia that these old WW recipes conjure up for so many people. Especially for those who have either followed the original program themselves or who remember their parents or other family members following it. Food is powerful, isn't it?

Today's recipe is one that seems to bring some happy memories to a lot of people so I thought: how delightful. I'll make a nice Sunday breakfast for the hubby and me--with the condition that if he tried the retro latkes and didn't like them, I promised to make him a batch of "real pancakes"...

If you'd like to try making these tasty little treasures for your Sunday morning feast, here's the run-down:

The batter consists of 1 egg, 1/3 cup cottage cheese, 1/3 cup skim milk, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1 slice of bread made into crumbs. (yep--we make our own crumbs on the retro plan, baby.)



Then, the batter is dropped by spoonfuls into a hot non-stick pan.




OK. Please ignore the fact that at this stage of the process it looks very much like novelty plastic vomit. Ugh.



Oh---and I almost forgot the BESTEST part! The topping. It's just 1/2 cup berries, 1 tablespoon water and 2 teaspoons artificial sweetener --simmer until berries are soft and syrupy. YUM!



The finished product actually came together quite well, and I gobbled up every last bite. In my opinion, it tasted like deconstructed french toast. It's amazing what wonders you can work with some cottage cheese and a slice of bread.

And the hubby? He enjoyed his pancakes.

It's Retro Mocktail Time!

Are you there Jean? It's me, Mimi.

I have a little problem. You see, It's almost the weekend, and I had a really rough week. I would like to have some cocktails with my friends, but it seems that alcohol is on your list of "illegal" foods. Was that a typo, perchance? No? Oh dear.

Oh Jean! What's a stressed-out working gal to do?

"You get your kicks by looking in the mirror after you've stayed away from the stronger beverages." ~Jean Nidetch

Alrighty then. In preparation for the weekend, I am mixing up a couple of tasty, guilt-free non-potent potables courtesy of the 1972 WW Plan.

Here's a doozy...The Skinny Devil. It's a spicy little number made with 1 cup tomato juice, 1/2 cup clam juice and a dash of red hot sauce - served over ice.

Or---In honor of St. Patty's Day, you could try a Creme de Menthe Frappe. This is a mixture of 4 teaspoons artificial sweetener, 1 cup cold water, 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract and a few drops green food coloring. Add crushed ice, serve in a frosted cocktail glass and stir.

OK. I dare you to order this one the next time you go to the local neighborhood bar. It's everyone's favorite: the Nectarine "Daiquiri". Here are the ingredients:

• 1 ripe nectarine
• 1/4 cup diet ginger ale
• 3 ice cubes
• 1/2 teaspoon rum extract
• dash lemon juice

Combine ingredients in blender and mix until smooth then serve in a brandy snifter.

Come to think of it, all of these drinks should be served in a brandy snifter. Why not?

Finally, here is my personal favorite - the Horse's Neck "Highball". This is a simple combination of club soda, bitters and a dash of lemon juice. Garnish with a lemon twist and serve in a fancy glass on the rocks. (And if you want to add a little splash of bourbon, go ahead, I won't tell...) Here is an actual picture of me enjoying one at a fine local Pittsburgh establishment.



You should have seen the look on the bartender's face when I ordered this thing.

So go ahead and kick up your platform heels, ladies! It's the weekend. Have a blast.

Frankenstein Foods

I often wonder what it would have been like to have Jean Nidetch as my WW Leader. She did not mince words and she did not let anyone get away with excuses in her meetings. Her philosophy was that sometimes you have to be "cruel to be kind". But her members loved her. I mean, look how happy this lady is. And what exactly is Jean feeding her???

Anyway, I remember an excerpt from her autobiography where she describes a man who came to one of her meetings and said he loved to eat donuts almost uncontrollably. Jean told him that he would have to completely give up donuts, and he became very upset. Of course, in modern day WW, a leader would never tell us we had to give up any food completely. But Jean was a tough cookie, and the program was very different back then. Anyway, this guy ended up losing a lot of weight, and when he reached his goal, Jean asked him if he was going to celebrate by treating himself to a donut.

His answer was no. The donut had now become a symbol of his old self, and he did not want to re-visit that.

Whoa. Far out, man

Jean calls those foods "Frankenstein Foods". They are not just foods we enjoy, or foods we crave, but foods we completely lose control of ourselves around and that bring out the "monster" in us.

My "Frankenstein Food" is the potato chip. I can only describe my relationship with the chip as toxic and addictive. If there is an open bag of potato chips near me, I will eat until I make myself sick. This is a proven fact, and it is something that I cannot control.

I have tried to substitute baked chips, reduced-fat chips, fat-free chips--the same result always occurs. I end up with an empty bag and a panic attack. Small bags don't cut it. It just makes me want more. Remember that old commercial from the '70's-- "betcha can't eat just one?" Yea--I lost a lot of bets on that one.



So the hard lesson I have had to learn is: Jean was right. Some foods are Frankenstein and they must be destroyed. As hard as that might be to accept.

What food brings out the "monster" in you?

And the Winner Is...

Thank you to Ellen at Weighting Around for recognizing 1972: The Retro WW Experiment with the "Creative Blogger Award". Ellen was my first "official" follower, and I will always remember how much that meant to me. So in her honor, I wanted to be sure to take the time to recognize Ellen and pass this award along to some other folks.

Upon receiving this award, it is customary to tell up to six outrageous lies about yourself, and at least one outrageous truth in your next blog post. However, in keeping with the theme of the Retro WW Experiment, I have decided instead to take a different approach...

Below, I have posted 10 "Dieting Rules" of the 1972 WW Program. Eight of them are actual rules and two of them are totally fabricated by me, and have absolutely no validity. Can you spot the phony 1972 WW rules?

1. You may have bread at meal-time only
2. Sardines are strictly prohibited
3. You must eat liver exactly once per week
4. You may eat frog's legs 5 times per week, if desired
5. A cup of bouillon must be consumed before every meal
6. A banana can only be eaten one time per week
7. Eggs may NEVER be eaten for dinner
8. Mustard is permitted in unlimited amounts
9. Mayonnaise, oil or margarine must always be spread with a knife or spatula -- never brushed on
10. No more than 6 ounces of coffee per day may be consumed

In closing, I would like to pass along this award to a few deserving bloggers who I have recently begun following. Although I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE all of the blogs I follow, I chose these budding weight loss bloggers because I know how hard it is to get recognized in this crazy blog-o-rama. So I hope I can give these brave ladies a little boost today just like Ellen gave to me!

Leanne at An Open Book
Christy at Just Imagine...A Thinner Me!
Caitlin at Previously Pudgie in Pittsburgh
KKSC2NC at On the blog train woot! woot!
Ten Gone at Ten Gone
Booty Phat at One Day at a Time

Attack of the Mystery Loaf - Part Two

I know you have all been waiting patiently, so here it is... Part Two!

For my second loaf, I have prepared a lovely Chicken Buttermilk Loaf.

There are some things I just don't understand. Like why chicken would ever need to be gelatinized and formed into a loaf. But Jean assures me that this is a wonderful light luncheon dish. So I had to give it a whirl.

Like many of the dishes in The 1972 Revised WW Program Cookbook, this recipe features Knox Unflavored Gelatin. I have to admit, this is an ingredient I do not use frequently, so I am slightly apprehensive and a bit uneasy. But I soldier on...what can possibly go wrong? Once I have dissolved the gelatin into some bouillon, and combined it with the buttermilk, lemon juice and red hot sauce (gaaa) -- I am now supposed to "chill until the mixture is consistency of unbeaten egg whites." I suddenly become really nervous.

Tell me. How is it that a program with such specific and definitive rules can be so vague and esoteric with its recipe instructions? I digress...

I actually had to repeat this step a second time, because the first time, I completely flew right past the egg-white consistency and went straight to vanilla pudding consistency. Ugh! When I finally achieved the "sort of" egg-whitish state, it was time to add the cooked chicken, parsley and celery then place into my loaf mold for more chilling. Oh yes---did I not tell you? This is a cold dish.

So here's the finished product. Can you see that it is glistening? Can you see that it is quivering? Sadly--I am unable to provide a review of this recipe, because I was physically unable to taste it. My gag reflex kept engaging every time I put the fork near my mouth. Bon Appetit!



Oh...and one last thing! Before signing off for today, I would like to wish my Dearest Mother the happiest of birthdays. She endured this program back in 1972 (for real), and continues to be my ispiration for writing this blog today. Here's to you mom! You are my idol!

I Need a Drink...

Since "dietetic products" like sugar-free calorie-free carbonated beverages are legal on the 1972 WW Plan, I thought I should take a moment to address the diet beverage issue. Two servings per day are permitted in "reasonably unlimited amounts". Whatever that means.

Let us now sing the praises of the stupendously craptastic diet soda that we all know and love: TAB. I hope you will enjoy this creepy TAB commercial from the early 1970's and ask yourself, "Are you a mind sticker?"



Happy Saturday Everyone!

Attack of the Mystery Loaf - Part One

This weekend, I am featuring a 2-part series of loaf-related recipes at the 1972 Retro WW Experiment. So hold onto your Pepto Bismol bottles, ladies and gentlemen!

For my first loaf, I will be featuring a Soybean and Vegetable Loaf. I chose this obscure little recipe, because it is one of the few meatless main dish recipes in the 1972 WW Revised Program Cookbook, and since I try to lean towards a mostly vegetarian diet, I thought I would really enjoy this dish. Plus--I thought it would be perfect for the Lenten Potluck Season! *Wink*

Jean Nidetch calls soybeans the "Little Honorable Plant of the Orient." Right you are, Jean. And what better way to use soybeans than to cook them, drain them, and puree them into a ground-up mystery food?

The recipe calls for the following ingredients to be pureed and placed in a small loaf pan or casserole then baked for about an hour and topped with tomato sauce:

• 9 oz. cooked soybeans
• 1/2 c sliced celery
• 2 oz. sliced onion
• 2 oz. sliced carrot
• 1 cup green beans
• 2 Tbsp. water
• salt & pepper

I added a few drops of hot sauce for flavor.









As the dish was baking, the house was filled with a lovely aroma. A few times, I almost tricked myself into believing I had a real meatloaf in the oven. However, upon removing it from the oven, the lovely bright green color served as a gentle reminder that it was in fact, not meatloaf, but rather something else entirely.




I happen to LOVE soybeans, so I really enjoyed this dish. In fact, I will probably make it again. But I have to admit that as I was assembling this recipe I couldn't help but imagine Charlton Heston screaming, "Soylent Green is made out of people!!!!"

What is your favorite loaf?

Breaking News from the Retro WW Experiment!

I couldn't wait to report that after one whole week on this crazy Retro WW Experiment, I have lost......

One pound! TaaaDaaa!

I can honestly say that this wacky little project has renewed my resolve and re-energized my weight loss journey. OK--I have to admit that I have not followed the 1972 Program "Rules" exactly as written, but I have incorporated many of the concepts and recipes into my current plan, and so far it is working! Far Out!

Skinny Jeans, here I come!

It's Retro Snacktime! - The Not-So-Danish "Pastry"

Welcome new followers of the Retro WW Experiment! I want to sincerely thank you for taking the time to visit my groovy (yet somewhat horrifying) little blog.

Now then. Can we talk? I enjoy a tasty snack just as much as the next gal. Which is why I HAD to try this cute little sweetie.

I must preface by saying: There continues to be a legion of Retro WW enthusiasts who still rave about this snack. I still hear ladies whispering about it in meeting rooms across the land. They talk about it as if it were the best thing they ever ate in their life.

Any snack that can stand the test of time like this one must be good, right?

OK. So here's all you do...

Take 1/4 cup of cottage cheese. (This is almost half of your cheese allotment for the day, so choose wisely!) Now mix it with a teaspoon of artificial sweetener, a pinch of cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Now "spread" this mixture on your slice of bread. (You only get 2 slices of bread for the entire day, so you better savor the crap out of this). I used an Arnold's Sandwich Thin, because that's all I had on hand. (please don't judge me, Jean)



Here's the great part, folks: Since spreadable cheeses were "illegal" on the original WW plan, you could really feel like you were "cheating" by doing this. Don't you feel NAUGHTY?

Now that you have your Not-So-Danish "Pastry" all prepped and ready to go, all you need to do next is put it under the broiler until bubbly & hot. Yum?


I made 2 servings. One for me and one for my hubby. I have to admit I thought it was mighty tasty. The hubby--not so much.

My final review: Once you get past the idea that you are indeed eating hot cottage cheese (Ew.) I think you will enjoy it too. Why not whip up a batch for your next Tupperware Party?

I'm Up to My Spanx in Tuna!

As I continue with this experiment, it is inevitable that I must address the issue of the 5-Fish rule. If I want to do this right, I must try to eat a minimum of 5 weekly fish meals.

Jean Nidetch says..."You need never be bored with fish!"

Considering she lists over 50 species of fish in the 1972 WW Revised Program Cookbook and many "interesting" ways to prepare it, you would almost have to agree with this statement. But allow me to provide a few examples of the recipe titles:

• Pink Lady Fish Salad;
• Tuna, Tomato and Zucchini Mold;
• Fish Stuffed Potato Boats;
• Salmon Buttermilk Loaf

I'm not gonna lie to you. These recipes scare me just a little.

No wonder my mom used to eat her tuna straight from the can just to get her 5 servings in!

I have been told by a few Retro WW enthusiasts that a little mustard helps the tuna go down a bit easier. (Mustard is a legal condiment!)

Any other ideas? Pretty please?