There are three ways to start this story, even if it's not one easy to admit, even as I grapple with the compromises I make. I'm not entirely proud – except that I’ve taken charge of my body weight albeit AGAIN. In these words, I hope, is a story of Choice and Hope and Compromise. INTRO NUMBER ONE: The Dr Phil Effect. Back before Dr Phil was Somebody, before Oprah, before the Dr Phil Show day-time trash, before the Britney Spears intervention, my sister asked, “Have you heard of this guy, Dr. Phil? When you repeat the same behavior again and again, he’ll ask, ‘How’s that workin’ out for ya?’ It’s absurd to expect different results from the same behavior.” And the truth is, even though I believe in it, Weight Watchers hasn’t been working for me. But wait, let me put that more carefully, more honestly: despite numerous hopeful starts and re-starts, for the last few years, I haven’t been working Weight Watchers. It’s not the fault of Weight Watchers, it’s mine. INTRO

My favorite recipes from 2012, just one "best" recipe per month. Made with "real food" (not processed food) and expressing that certain Kitchen Parade style, that means 'fresh' and 'easy' and 'healthy' and 'flavor-forward' and 'seasonal'. Weight Watchers, all Kitchen Parade recipes include Weight Watchers points and nutrition information! "My grandma always used to .... [fill in the blank]." I love this about kids: Do something memorable once or twice or three times and it fixes in memory as if experienced week-in-week-out for years. "My grandma always used to make pancakes in animal shapes. My grandma always kept an open bag of candy in a kitchen drawer, right in front where it was easy to get to." True stories. Here at Kitchen Parade, it is also true though that every year I "always" look back over the year's recipes and do my best, as hard as it is, to collect in one place what

A tiny serving of a decadent dessert, adding up to just a few calories, easy to make and perfect for New Years and other festive occasions. It's tiramisu – except that the eggs are cooked, not raw – served in little dessert cups, layered with ground pralines if you like or the more traditional cocoa powder if you prefer. Regular readers, remember how I promised a special dessert recipe based on Bourbon Pralines ? This is it! … therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee. -John Donne, 17th-century author The New Year Diet Bell is tolling, people, we hear it sounding in the back of our heads, dong, dong, dong. Just another slice of that Christmas ham? Dong. Another glass of Homemade Eggnog? Dong, dong. Paying extra attention to the Christmas cookie plate? Dong, dong, dong. Well hang on, all, because there are just one or two more holiday gatherings to steel ourselves through. Then for many of us, we can warily step back onto our