I have always wanted to try to make homemade Boston Baked Beans. But.....I have this fear of dry beans for some weird reason. I know, it sounds crazy. I didn't grow up with anyone in my family using dry beans to make things...(that I know of anyway) LOL So it is unfamiliar territory for me.
So you are probably wondering, Why now?? Well I love baked beans. My family loves baked beans. I often stick to just the basic can of Bush's beans, (Boston baked or Country style are our favorites). I thought to myself how hard can it be to make them??? I looked up a few recipes and found this one that looked easy enough, no weird ingredients and hey I actually had a bag of Northern beans in the pantry.
*I bought them in hopes of attempting to incorporate more inexpensive meals that incorporate beans*
So here is my chance. I found this recipe and it was super easy. (and you get a little history lesson as well),
http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/slow_cooked_boston_baked_beans/
Now I must say at this point we haven't eaten them yet, *they are still cooking* LOL But the house smells amazing and the fact that they just go in the slow cooker and you leave them alone to cook all day is super awesome in my book.
If these turn out well I have a feeling my family might be saying, "Please, no more beans..LOL "
We won't eat these until tomorrow even though they are cooking today. Ryan's 12th birthday is tomorrow and his "birthday" meal is hamburgers, hot dogs, my super cheesy homemade mac and cheese and baked beans. (I could have just opened a can, but it wouldn't be the same now would it?) :)
I Corinthians 13:4-7
4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Graduation, Moving out, Summer vacation....OY!!
Shelby and I after her graduation ceremony!! :)
So many milestones, so little time!!!
The kids have been out of school for a few weeks already. Some days I can't wait for school to start, other days it's not so bad. Seems the days I have to grocery shop or run an errand are the most stressful. I am so used to doing those things by myself while they are in school. I also miss my special TUESDAY time with J.R. :( He has Tuesday's off and often times we would run errands or do grocery shopping or just sit at home on our laptops and enjoy the quiet and alone time. We will have that time back again I know, but I do so miss it.
As my title implies, we also had a graduation and a moving out milestone. Both accomplished by our oldest daughter Shelby. She graduated from high school on May 27th, 2012!! I still can't believe that she is done with high school. She worked hard and achieved awesome grades her final year. There was less drama than previous two years, and she really blossomed and matured in a short amount of time. She has a boyfriend who we like very much. He moved here to Iowa to be with her, (that right there tells me he loves her very much). They both acquired full time jobs just days after Shelby's graduation ceremony. They even found a great little apartment not too far, and in the same town we live in. I love that she is close enough to stop by. We helped them get all moved in last weekend and helped unpack some of their stuff. I haven't been over since then but I speak to her daily and she tells me that she is still unpacking things and organizing.
I remember fondly when I first moved out on my own....it was scary, liberating, and joyous all at the same time. I know it's only been a week but I think they will do great and I believe in her ability to handle things on her own. I have heard people tell me that I must have done something right and taught her the right things so she felt confident enough to move out on her own. Well, I don't know about that.....I did try to teach her things to help her in adult life, but I wasn't always sure she was listening or paying attention.
Just last night we were texting each other and this is how it went.......
ME : It's different when your own place huh?
Shelby : It sucks! I have to do everything !!!!
ME: Michael isn't helping??
Shelby: He does, But it's just weird cuz usually I had U to rely on but...haha I gotta do all the mom stuff by myself. haha
ME:Yes I do know, I was young once too believe it or not. LOL You don't have anyone else to pick up the slack...or give you a breadk. It's all on you if it gets done or not. It is liberating though!! :)
Shelby : LOL It is a bit lol
She then told me about going to the laundromat to do their laundry, and coming home and making homemade spaghetti sauce and some pasta for herself to eat for supper. (her BF works 6pm-6am)
I am so proud of her. I am happy for her. I do miss her though....the kids miss her. They have commented at least once a day how weird it is to not have Shelby in the house. That they used to have to be quiet in the morning so they wouldn't wake her up, and that they couldn't really watch TV downstairs in the family room because that is where her room was.
But, I think we are slowly adjusting to life with Shelby on her own. :)
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Chilly, Rainy and in dire need of some comforting soup!!
http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2008/03/irish-potato-cabbage-soup-with-soda.html
This is what I am in the mood for this weekend. It's rainy, cold and just plain blah outside here in Iowa. I found this recipe when I was doing Gluten Free/ Vegan. OMG it is to die for. The Gluten Free Goddess's recipes are amazing, and full of amazing flavor. I have never had soda bread before and I fell in love!! I know, probably not the best love affair to have but damn it was yummy!! So tonight my fabulous husband and I are going to cook together and make this wonderful meal. (the kids don't like so I will make them something like broccoli/chicken/alfredo pasta for supper.) They don't know what they are missing!!
If you get a chance please check out her blog...she is AMAZING!!
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
This is what I am in the mood for this weekend. It's rainy, cold and just plain blah outside here in Iowa. I found this recipe when I was doing Gluten Free/ Vegan. OMG it is to die for. The Gluten Free Goddess's recipes are amazing, and full of amazing flavor. I have never had soda bread before and I fell in love!! I know, probably not the best love affair to have but damn it was yummy!! So tonight my fabulous husband and I are going to cook together and make this wonderful meal. (the kids don't like so I will make them something like broccoli/chicken/alfredo pasta for supper.) They don't know what they are missing!!
If you get a chance please check out her blog...she is AMAZING!!
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Home is.....Here!!
I know we moved in almost a month ago now, but I wanted to share a picture of the new place. We are really loving it! There is such a peace here. Even when things are stressful with the kids, JR's job, finances or anything....we still find at the end of the day that we have a peaceful place in which we live. I have never know this feeling so strong in any place I ever lived. It sounds kind of nutty doesn't it? How can a house make you feel peaceful inside? I thought that too but I think a combination of things has my heart and mind at peace. 1. it is OURS!! nobody else owns it (well except the bank), 2. The area is quiet, neighbors are nice (the ones we have met so far anyway), and 3. The kids have a little more freedom now, they walk to school and walk home on their own. I don't have to be so overprotective of them anymore. This in itself calms me right down to my core.
This is where the kids will grow up and call home. Even Shelby even though she won't live here for long. They will associate this place with HOME!! We plan to stay here for a very long time. :)
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Hi...Remember me?
I know it has been ages since I have posted. So much has happened since then, We finally closed on our house March 29th, and got to move in on March 31st!! What a crazy weekend that was!! I am never moving again. I am still feeling the effects of the lifting, bending, hoisting and any other actions I did over the course of the week previous and the week after. Not to mention the 2 1/2 full days of packing, loading and unloading we all did.
But, it is done, we are moved in and actually I think we have done quite well getting things put where we want them. :) I am pretty proud of the progress we have made thus far. We still have some boxes that we actually cannot unpack just yet because we are planning a homemade bookcase/shelving endeavor and since it will be a permenant fixture we want to be sure to take every consideration with it.
The kids are adapting and making friends, they are enjoying their new rooms, even though they don't have their beds yet. LOL *they do however have brand new mattresses on the floor till the furniture arrives (which hopefully will be within the next week or so)*
Elizabeth is struggling with the amount of homework, and gets frustrated quite easily with it. I feel for her, I was never really a math whiz either and I too get frustrated with it still to this day. But she is now learning Chinese and Spanish!! How cool is that? 3rd grade and learning not just the basic reading, math and science, but 2 languages!! :) Ryan however is another story altogether. He is smart and does well in school and his behavior at school is good (as far as we know, since we haven't heard anything to the contrary we are going with it). But his behaviors at home are horrible. He is disrespectful, he is lying, and being a complete con man. I see so many of his bio dad's attributes in him and it scares me to death. I am praying and praying that we can get his world turned back to the right path real fast before anything sets in too deep. My Ex is still homeless, jobless and I have heard that he is back living in his car again. I just can't let Ryan be ruined by his dad. I just can't imagine going all this time without a job, or a place to live. It is quite sad really.
Of course he doesn't talk to me or let me know anything. Which I believe is unfair since his behavior, lifestyle etc all impact our kids. I am by no means perfect but everything I do is with their safety, well being and health in mind first and foremost.
Okay enough ranting. I have some reading to do and some homework to complete for a bible study I joined and started just a couple of days after moving here. So I best get at it. :) Thanks for reading.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
But, it is done, we are moved in and actually I think we have done quite well getting things put where we want them. :) I am pretty proud of the progress we have made thus far. We still have some boxes that we actually cannot unpack just yet because we are planning a homemade bookcase/shelving endeavor and since it will be a permenant fixture we want to be sure to take every consideration with it.
The kids are adapting and making friends, they are enjoying their new rooms, even though they don't have their beds yet. LOL *they do however have brand new mattresses on the floor till the furniture arrives (which hopefully will be within the next week or so)*
Elizabeth is struggling with the amount of homework, and gets frustrated quite easily with it. I feel for her, I was never really a math whiz either and I too get frustrated with it still to this day. But she is now learning Chinese and Spanish!! How cool is that? 3rd grade and learning not just the basic reading, math and science, but 2 languages!! :) Ryan however is another story altogether. He is smart and does well in school and his behavior at school is good (as far as we know, since we haven't heard anything to the contrary we are going with it). But his behaviors at home are horrible. He is disrespectful, he is lying, and being a complete con man. I see so many of his bio dad's attributes in him and it scares me to death. I am praying and praying that we can get his world turned back to the right path real fast before anything sets in too deep. My Ex is still homeless, jobless and I have heard that he is back living in his car again. I just can't let Ryan be ruined by his dad. I just can't imagine going all this time without a job, or a place to live. It is quite sad really.
Of course he doesn't talk to me or let me know anything. Which I believe is unfair since his behavior, lifestyle etc all impact our kids. I am by no means perfect but everything I do is with their safety, well being and health in mind first and foremost.
Okay enough ranting. I have some reading to do and some homework to complete for a bible study I joined and started just a couple of days after moving here. So I best get at it. :) Thanks for reading.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Hitting the wall
So many times I diet and do well for a week or two or even three......I thought if I went Gluten Free this would surely help me to lose some weight a bit faster without the wheat. Obviously this is not true. I am stalled...I don't like it and I need to figure out what I can do to get the scale moving back in a downward trend. I need to stop the picking here and there....I know that the fact that brownies are made gluten free doesn't mean they are healthy for me. I sometimes hate that I LOVE FOOD!! I love the way it tastes (if it's good), I love the way it feels in my mouth, and the tastes of things coming together to form and explosion of flavor that satisfies me to the tips of my sparkly painted toes!! UGH....frustrating to say the least. It's time to knuckle down and figure it out once and for all....I can't keep doing this to myself. Time to cut everything I make in half and live through the hunger. Water, water, water.....need to drink my water as well.
Okay enough of my whining....time to pull up the bootstraps and move forward like I tell everyone else. No more messing around. I have fought counting calories for a long time and I have been on so many eating plans that it would make your head spin. I think I am taking bits and pieces from every one of those and mixing them together into what I am doing now and it just isn't working!!!
I can't wait to get moved and get settled in, I feel like life is just in limbo right now and it is causing me some stress and anxiety which I am trying to hide from everyone else around me. Trying to brush it off and let it go as I wade through a sea of boxes in every freaking room I enter in this place. Then there is trying to cook, clean and raise my family among the chaos that has become our home. It makes me want to just scream at times!!!
I just feel like these next 2 weeks are going to go by so slowly. I know the day will be here before we know it but it's just been so long since we looked at the house and decided to buy it. We got so much done in those first 2 weeks than has gone on in several weeks. Sometimes I feel like we should have not given the sellers so much time to get out of there since it has added to my stress and anxiety. But that is selfish isn't it? Okay...taking a deep breath in and out and moving on with my day.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Okay enough of my whining....time to pull up the bootstraps and move forward like I tell everyone else. No more messing around. I have fought counting calories for a long time and I have been on so many eating plans that it would make your head spin. I think I am taking bits and pieces from every one of those and mixing them together into what I am doing now and it just isn't working!!!
I can't wait to get moved and get settled in, I feel like life is just in limbo right now and it is causing me some stress and anxiety which I am trying to hide from everyone else around me. Trying to brush it off and let it go as I wade through a sea of boxes in every freaking room I enter in this place. Then there is trying to cook, clean and raise my family among the chaos that has become our home. It makes me want to just scream at times!!!
I just feel like these next 2 weeks are going to go by so slowly. I know the day will be here before we know it but it's just been so long since we looked at the house and decided to buy it. We got so much done in those first 2 weeks than has gone on in several weeks. Sometimes I feel like we should have not given the sellers so much time to get out of there since it has added to my stress and anxiety. But that is selfish isn't it? Okay...taking a deep breath in and out and moving on with my day.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Down 5 lbs just eating Vegan/GF :)
I completed the 7 day Vegan/GF challenge with what I count as 100% success. Not only did I not use pre-packaged foods that were challenge safe, but I cooked and created several very tasty dishes that I would definitely make again. I have really been slacking on blogging lately and I am kicking myself for that. I know it could be very beneficial to me later on down the road as my journey to "health and weight loss" progresses.
With packing up to move in the next few weeks there just always seems to be so much to do and not enough time, energy or boxes to get it done. All the while still trying to keep up with regular tasks like the dreaded laundry and dishes that a family of 5 produces on a daily basis. I swear our dirty clothes actually are pro-creating in the basement!!! It's just nuts I tell you!
My hope and goal is that once we are settled in to the new house and I can get things in more of a routine I plan to take a little time to just tap out a few lines in my blog. Even just a couple of times a week would suffice for me at this point.
My weight loss as of today is stalled. I lost 10 lbs and that was it. I am eating way too much despite making healthier choices. Healthy is good but massive quantities negate the outcome I am in search of. LOL
So new goals this week will be to drink smoothies for breakfast, or snacks and really be more diligent about writing down feelings before and after eating, both physical and emotional. It seemed to help somewhat when I was doing the challenge and even though I am not "turning them in" to someone to read, perhaps just the act of doing it will help.
Just had a quick thought that maybe my husband will take on a challenge and read them for me daily and maybe discussing things with him will help to change my point of view and keep me focused if I have to be that accountable. :) Can't hurt to ask...LOL
Well, dinner must be cooked early this evening as we have "family counseling" in a couple of hours. It's been a busy day. We took Elizabeth to her new school today for a tour and to meet the principal. It went well and she is even more excited about moving and changing schools now. I just know it is going to be an extremely positive move from everyone's perspective.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
With packing up to move in the next few weeks there just always seems to be so much to do and not enough time, energy or boxes to get it done. All the while still trying to keep up with regular tasks like the dreaded laundry and dishes that a family of 5 produces on a daily basis. I swear our dirty clothes actually are pro-creating in the basement!!! It's just nuts I tell you!
My hope and goal is that once we are settled in to the new house and I can get things in more of a routine I plan to take a little time to just tap out a few lines in my blog. Even just a couple of times a week would suffice for me at this point.
My weight loss as of today is stalled. I lost 10 lbs and that was it. I am eating way too much despite making healthier choices. Healthy is good but massive quantities negate the outcome I am in search of. LOL
So new goals this week will be to drink smoothies for breakfast, or snacks and really be more diligent about writing down feelings before and after eating, both physical and emotional. It seemed to help somewhat when I was doing the challenge and even though I am not "turning them in" to someone to read, perhaps just the act of doing it will help.
Just had a quick thought that maybe my husband will take on a challenge and read them for me daily and maybe discussing things with him will help to change my point of view and keep me focused if I have to be that accountable. :) Can't hurt to ask...LOL
Well, dinner must be cooked early this evening as we have "family counseling" in a couple of hours. It's been a busy day. We took Elizabeth to her new school today for a tour and to meet the principal. It went well and she is even more excited about moving and changing schools now. I just know it is going to be an extremely positive move from everyone's perspective.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Quick Vegan/GF pasta sauce
So I checked my cupboards and came up with a couple of cans of diced tomatoes, some garlic, onion and I even bought some fresh basil this past week...BONUS!!
Ingredients:
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 med onion chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
approx 6 big leaves of fresh basil (you can use dry as well just cook it a bit longer)
2 tbsp olive oil
I started out with some olive oil in a skillet and cooked the chopped onions till softened, added the garlic and tomatoes and let it simmer covered for about 10 minutes. Then I took a potato masher and mashed up the tomatoes. Then I added some fresh chopped basil and mixed that all in and let it simmer uncovered on low for about 5-10 more minutes till it thickened up a bit. And there you have it....Pasta sauce!! Vegan and Gluten Free!!!
Now to cook up the pasta and toss in the sauce....VOILA!! Dinner is served!!
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Gluten Free Tortillas
This is an awesome recipe for Gluten Free Flour Tortillas....so easy to make and Delicious!!
Gluten Free Flour Tortillas
Here is a picture of how mine came out.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Gluten Free Flour Tortillas
Here is a picture of how mine came out.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Thai Red Curry & Coconut milk Vegan soup
Ingredients
1 box of Vegetable broth
1/2 bag of stir fry veggies (I had a half of a bag you can use more if you like)
2 handfuls of frozen edamame
2 Tbsp Thai Red Curry paste
1 can lite coconut milk
1 pkg Bean Threads
Garnish w/ sliced green onion, chopped flat leaf parsley & lime wedges. (optional)
Soak bean threads for 10-15 minutes (follow your pkg directions)
Heat broth, veggies, edamame, thai curry paste & coconut milk together.
Drop in bean threads and simmer for a few minutes and serve!!
Garnish is optional but really enhances the flavor in my opinion. :)
This was filling and made a good sized pot of soup. I would say it would serve 4 people who are hungry quite easily.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Where have I been you ask????
Well I haven't blogged like I have wanted to. Seems like I just never have enough hours in the day to get everything done that I want to.
So I will update since the last time I posted.
I joined a Vegan/Gluten free Challenge and I am on day 4 and have lost 4 lbs!! I feel much better (other than an ear infection I was diagnosed with last Monday :( )
I haven't been formally diagnosed with Gluten sensitivity but I have noticed in the past couple of weeks that giving up "Wheat" gluten I feel so much better. The bloat is gone, the uncomfortable gas is gone. And I am losing weight. Before I started the challenge I had lost 6 lbs in about 10 days. My clothes are fitting better, heck even my shoes feel better. Is that crazy or what??
My whole family is eating better. Lots of fruits and veggies available for snacks and no junk in the house makes for healthier choices for sure.
I am going to be posting some of the recipes I have been making (just being creative w/ things we have in the house that we know are vegan and gluten free has been a blast)!!
My husband J.R. is even doing this with me as well. He also has lost 10 lbs and feels much better too. So whatever combination we happen to be doing is helping us to feel better and shed some long unwanted extra pounds. Which will only help us to be more active and enjoy our wonderful lives together!!
So that is what I have been up to. I am making a list of the recipes I want to share and I have even been trying to take pics of things I have made recently that I will post as soon as I can. Since we bought a house and will probably be moving here at some point before the end of this month, I have lots to do by way of packing and preparing for that.
Thanks for popping in....Have a blessed day!!
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
So I will update since the last time I posted.
I joined a Vegan/Gluten free Challenge and I am on day 4 and have lost 4 lbs!! I feel much better (other than an ear infection I was diagnosed with last Monday :( )
I haven't been formally diagnosed with Gluten sensitivity but I have noticed in the past couple of weeks that giving up "Wheat" gluten I feel so much better. The bloat is gone, the uncomfortable gas is gone. And I am losing weight. Before I started the challenge I had lost 6 lbs in about 10 days. My clothes are fitting better, heck even my shoes feel better. Is that crazy or what??
My whole family is eating better. Lots of fruits and veggies available for snacks and no junk in the house makes for healthier choices for sure.
I am going to be posting some of the recipes I have been making (just being creative w/ things we have in the house that we know are vegan and gluten free has been a blast)!!
My husband J.R. is even doing this with me as well. He also has lost 10 lbs and feels much better too. So whatever combination we happen to be doing is helping us to feel better and shed some long unwanted extra pounds. Which will only help us to be more active and enjoy our wonderful lives together!!
So that is what I have been up to. I am making a list of the recipes I want to share and I have even been trying to take pics of things I have made recently that I will post as soon as I can. Since we bought a house and will probably be moving here at some point before the end of this month, I have lots to do by way of packing and preparing for that.
Thanks for popping in....Have a blessed day!!
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Super Easy Mac N Cheese!!
I just made some awesome mac n cheese for the kids for dinner. Since I hate to throw away food and we are going to be doing less processed foods. I made baked mac n cheese for the kids tonight. Super easy...
Ingredients
1 box penne pasta
2 cups shredded cheese (I used 1/2 c sharp cheddar & 1 1/2 c colby jack I had left in the fridge)
1 cup 1% milk
1/4 cup plain bread crumbs (optional)
Warm the milk in a deep skillet over med heat.
when warm add in the cheese and stir while the cheese melts slowly.
While doing this cook the pasta less than al dente, it will finish cooking in the cheese sauce.
Drain pasta and dump right into cheese sauce to coat. Place in a 9x13 lightly sprayed baking dish. Sprinkle w/ bread crumbs.
Bake on 350 till bubbly and pasta is completely done. Approximately 30 minutes.
Serve w/ some raw veggies on the side or some cooked broccoli.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Ingredients
1 box penne pasta
2 cups shredded cheese (I used 1/2 c sharp cheddar & 1 1/2 c colby jack I had left in the fridge)
1 cup 1% milk
1/4 cup plain bread crumbs (optional)
Warm the milk in a deep skillet over med heat.
when warm add in the cheese and stir while the cheese melts slowly.
While doing this cook the pasta less than al dente, it will finish cooking in the cheese sauce.
Drain pasta and dump right into cheese sauce to coat. Place in a 9x13 lightly sprayed baking dish. Sprinkle w/ bread crumbs.
Bake on 350 till bubbly and pasta is completely done. Approximately 30 minutes.
Serve w/ some raw veggies on the side or some cooked broccoli.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Up for a challenge????
I am so ready to feel better, live healthier, be able to move more with less pain and finally get rid of the extra weight I have been carrying around my entire adult life!!
Today I took charge and joined a 1 week Vegan/ Gluten Free Challenge. It is hosted by a Certified Holistic Health Counselor. I am looking forward to seeing the meal plan for 1 week. I want to do this for more than a week and actually wouldn't mind changing the way we eat to more of a Vegetarian way of eating. Who knows I may even like Vegan so much I will stick with it. I do know for sure that we do NOT need as much meat as we eat in this country. Not saying I don't like meat...just that it really doesn't do us any good with all the antibiotics, hormones and bio-engineering they do on the grain they feed these animals.
This is the perfect time for me to try this....I have an appointment with my doctor on Monday morning, I am going to have him to a full fasting lipid panel and check my blood glucose as well. I want numbers to compare to. I want to do this for a minimum of 8-12 weeks to see what kind of change I can make in my health and overall well being. I know it has to be substantial....it just has to be. My other goal is to blog/journal about how I am feeling, how things are going, what changes I see, feel or experience. Who knows I just might win the challenge!!! :)
If you are feeling adventurous ....here is the link for the Challenge.
Mindfully Healthy 1 week Vegan/GF challenge
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Today I took charge and joined a 1 week Vegan/ Gluten Free Challenge. It is hosted by a Certified Holistic Health Counselor. I am looking forward to seeing the meal plan for 1 week. I want to do this for more than a week and actually wouldn't mind changing the way we eat to more of a Vegetarian way of eating. Who knows I may even like Vegan so much I will stick with it. I do know for sure that we do NOT need as much meat as we eat in this country. Not saying I don't like meat...just that it really doesn't do us any good with all the antibiotics, hormones and bio-engineering they do on the grain they feed these animals.
This is the perfect time for me to try this....I have an appointment with my doctor on Monday morning, I am going to have him to a full fasting lipid panel and check my blood glucose as well. I want numbers to compare to. I want to do this for a minimum of 8-12 weeks to see what kind of change I can make in my health and overall well being. I know it has to be substantial....it just has to be. My other goal is to blog/journal about how I am feeling, how things are going, what changes I see, feel or experience. Who knows I just might win the challenge!!! :)
If you are feeling adventurous ....here is the link for the Challenge.
Mindfully Healthy 1 week Vegan/GF challenge
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Friday, February 24, 2012
OMG I think I am having a Heart Attack!!!
Those were words I never thought I would utter at the age of 45. But utter them I did, just a few short days ago.
It all started at the beginning of the week, I had what seemed to be muscle aches or soreness in the upper middle part of my back. Nothing huge or crushing but enough to make me wonder, "What did I do to pull something there?" Well I chalked it up to all this weight and all the sitting at the computer I had been doing, poor posture etc. I stretched and tried to move more while on the computer. It continued into the night and I was uncomfortable at night, laying down in bed. I started to analyze and try to diagnose my symptoms....could I be having a heart attack? I would lay in bed, and feeling my heart beat getting louder and louder. Pounding throughout my entire body. Which made me stress out more over it. I didn't sleep well for a couple of nights. I couldn't get comfortable....So finally I asked J.R., could I be having a heart attack?? He didn't think so as it had been going on for awhile and wasn't getting worse. So, I tried to relax and I just started feeling worse, my heart rate was way up, all I could think of was that I didn't want to die!!!
I had a kid home sick with me, and I was trying to remain calm for her and not let her worry. So we drove over to the pharmacy/grocery store where my hubby J.R. works and picked up some juices and tissues etc....
I asked him what I should do, and he took my blood pressure and it was quite high for me. 140/89 with a pulse of 108!!! I felt awful, wasn't dizzy and had no crushing pain, but still had the achey feeling in my back and even under my left breast.
I picked up the kids from school and J.R. left work and picked me up and took me to the ER. Where they rushed me into a room, and hooked me up to monitors and drew blood and did an EKG. After a few hours there, I was feeling lots more calm, still having the ache under my left breast, but with all the blood work up and stuff coming back okay I was trying not to worry. The diagnosis I was sent out with was "Sinus Tachycardia", big words for my heart rate was elevated over 100 due to stress of some kind.
I was told to go home, relax and try to divert my attention and if I was still feeling bad to come back anytime I felt that way. It is better to get it checked out and know for sure.
So far I am feeling better, trying to stress less but not easily done. I guess this is my A-Ha moment where I quit screwing around and really work on getting this weight off and getting healthier mind, body and soul.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
It all started at the beginning of the week, I had what seemed to be muscle aches or soreness in the upper middle part of my back. Nothing huge or crushing but enough to make me wonder, "What did I do to pull something there?" Well I chalked it up to all this weight and all the sitting at the computer I had been doing, poor posture etc. I stretched and tried to move more while on the computer. It continued into the night and I was uncomfortable at night, laying down in bed. I started to analyze and try to diagnose my symptoms....could I be having a heart attack? I would lay in bed, and feeling my heart beat getting louder and louder. Pounding throughout my entire body. Which made me stress out more over it. I didn't sleep well for a couple of nights. I couldn't get comfortable....So finally I asked J.R., could I be having a heart attack?? He didn't think so as it had been going on for awhile and wasn't getting worse. So, I tried to relax and I just started feeling worse, my heart rate was way up, all I could think of was that I didn't want to die!!!
I had a kid home sick with me, and I was trying to remain calm for her and not let her worry. So we drove over to the pharmacy/grocery store where my hubby J.R. works and picked up some juices and tissues etc....
I asked him what I should do, and he took my blood pressure and it was quite high for me. 140/89 with a pulse of 108!!! I felt awful, wasn't dizzy and had no crushing pain, but still had the achey feeling in my back and even under my left breast.
I picked up the kids from school and J.R. left work and picked me up and took me to the ER. Where they rushed me into a room, and hooked me up to monitors and drew blood and did an EKG. After a few hours there, I was feeling lots more calm, still having the ache under my left breast, but with all the blood work up and stuff coming back okay I was trying not to worry. The diagnosis I was sent out with was "Sinus Tachycardia", big words for my heart rate was elevated over 100 due to stress of some kind.
I was told to go home, relax and try to divert my attention and if I was still feeling bad to come back anytime I felt that way. It is better to get it checked out and know for sure.
So far I am feeling better, trying to stress less but not easily done. I guess this is my A-Ha moment where I quit screwing around and really work on getting this weight off and getting healthier mind, body and soul.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
I never thought about it......GLUTEN??
Since I last posted on my "silly little blog", as I fondly refer to it. I have started to try to eat better, and lose some of this dreaded weight I have gained back. It certainly gets harder and harder every flipping time I try to do it. This has to be THE last time for sure!!
The week started off pretty motivated, I was gung ho about it all. I had this bright idea that I would just weigh once a week, eat smaller & healthier meals, ......... 2 out of 3 ain't bad right?? I haven't been on the scale and I have been eating more mindfully. like how I phrased that?? Mindfully!!
I have big issues with portions but I am working on that as well. It's all a big mind game. One I don't particularly like either.
Let me go back just a bit to last weekend, I decided to try making "whole wheat" pasta. It turned out great, cooked it up, ate it...YUMM!! But the after effects were miserable. The gas, bloating and overall feeling of crapness was enough to make me look at something I hadn't ever thought of. Looking back and analyzing it, I noticed a patter. One that I just thought I was destined to live with or that everyone experienced after eating pasta. That really FULL feeling, even if I just ate a little. Then, despite the fullness I was still kind of hungry. What is up with that??? So I poked around the internet some and did some research. I think I might be Gluten Sensitive. I discovered quite a bit of information the pertained to me and even to the kids and J.R. Crazy to find out what has been done to Wheat to make it yield more...it's Bio Engineered to make us want more of it!! It's nuts really!! Now I know why there are so many people who are addicted to bread and pasta....it's the Franken Wheat (as it was so aptly put in an article I read).
So I have come to the conclusion that I think we should test my theory. J.R. and the kids are on board for it, and I know the kids won't do it 100% and maybe even J.R. won't since sometimes he just has to grab things on the fly at work. But that is okay. Because the biggest meals and sources of the gluten are from things I have been making at home. I have much more work to do in creating a meal plan etc....but at least I have something to target and go after.
I will post some Gluten Free recipes and start an actual section on the blog for it as well, as soon as I get a chance to try some and get pics.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
The week started off pretty motivated, I was gung ho about it all. I had this bright idea that I would just weigh once a week, eat smaller & healthier meals, ......... 2 out of 3 ain't bad right?? I haven't been on the scale and I have been eating more mindfully. like how I phrased that?? Mindfully!!
I have big issues with portions but I am working on that as well. It's all a big mind game. One I don't particularly like either.
Let me go back just a bit to last weekend, I decided to try making "whole wheat" pasta. It turned out great, cooked it up, ate it...YUMM!! But the after effects were miserable. The gas, bloating and overall feeling of crapness was enough to make me look at something I hadn't ever thought of. Looking back and analyzing it, I noticed a patter. One that I just thought I was destined to live with or that everyone experienced after eating pasta. That really FULL feeling, even if I just ate a little. Then, despite the fullness I was still kind of hungry. What is up with that??? So I poked around the internet some and did some research. I think I might be Gluten Sensitive. I discovered quite a bit of information the pertained to me and even to the kids and J.R. Crazy to find out what has been done to Wheat to make it yield more...it's Bio Engineered to make us want more of it!! It's nuts really!! Now I know why there are so many people who are addicted to bread and pasta....it's the Franken Wheat (as it was so aptly put in an article I read).
So I have come to the conclusion that I think we should test my theory. J.R. and the kids are on board for it, and I know the kids won't do it 100% and maybe even J.R. won't since sometimes he just has to grab things on the fly at work. But that is okay. Because the biggest meals and sources of the gluten are from things I have been making at home. I have much more work to do in creating a meal plan etc....but at least I have something to target and go after.
I will post some Gluten Free recipes and start an actual section on the blog for it as well, as soon as I get a chance to try some and get pics.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Homemade pasta!!
I have been wanting to try to make homemade pasta, and since we got our awesome Kitchen Aid stand mixer. We purchased the Pasta attachments for it and I decided to try it today. Just used the recipe from the book that comes with the attachments. It was easy, pretty much just eggs, flour, salt and water. Couldn't be easier!! Kneading it by hand was a chore but I discovered that the machine will knead it for you if you run it through the thickest setting. :) How cool is that?
So here is some pasta drying on the pasta drying rack!!
Also discovered that I can make this ahead and freeze it!! Can't wait to do a Monthly cooking again!! *won't be doing that till we move into our new house* Which could be anywhere from 2-6 weeks from now.
Will update later after I cook it and taste to let everyone know how it came out. :)
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
So here is some pasta drying on the pasta drying rack!!
Here is the finished batch of pasta. I used the fettucine cutter attachment. Can't wait to cook these and see how they come out. Serving them with my slow cooker Chicken Caccitore.
Also discovered that I can make this ahead and freeze it!! Can't wait to do a Monthly cooking again!! *won't be doing that till we move into our new house* Which could be anywhere from 2-6 weeks from now.
Will update later after I cook it and taste to let everyone know how it came out. :)
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
ONLY 2 Ingredients??? AMAZING
I love easy recipes...it not only saves us time but the less ingredients the more we know what is in it right?
Here are a couple of recipes I got from friends I do not take credit for them, I just know I have made them and they are AWESOME!!
1 Minute Microwave Cake!!
1 box angel food cake mix
1 box any flavor cake mix (I chose sugar free Devils food..since I am a chocoholic)
Mix both boxes together in a ziploc baggie. When ready to enjoy a single serving of cake, in a mug mix together 3 tbsp of cake mixture and 2 tbsp water. Place in microwave for 1 minute and voila...CAKE!! :)
**Add in ideas - 1 tbsp mini choc chips, ground coffee for mocha flavor, frozen fruit like Cherries or strawberries. or just make up your own. :)
Lemon square dessert
1 box angel food cake mix
1 can lemon pie filling
Mix together place in greased baking dish and bake at 350 for 20 minutes
**Note...the bigger then pan the thinner the squares. I made mine in a 9x13 pan and they were quite thick. I think next time I would make them in a jelly roll pan and see how that works out. It's all trial and error and they taste really good. Quite refreshing and really satisfy that craving for something sweet. :)
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Here are a couple of recipes I got from friends I do not take credit for them, I just know I have made them and they are AWESOME!!
1 Minute Microwave Cake!!
1 box angel food cake mix
1 box any flavor cake mix (I chose sugar free Devils food..since I am a chocoholic)
Mix both boxes together in a ziploc baggie. When ready to enjoy a single serving of cake, in a mug mix together 3 tbsp of cake mixture and 2 tbsp water. Place in microwave for 1 minute and voila...CAKE!! :)
**Add in ideas - 1 tbsp mini choc chips, ground coffee for mocha flavor, frozen fruit like Cherries or strawberries. or just make up your own. :)
Lemon square dessert
1 box angel food cake mix
1 can lemon pie filling
Mix together place in greased baking dish and bake at 350 for 20 minutes
**Note...the bigger then pan the thinner the squares. I made mine in a 9x13 pan and they were quite thick. I think next time I would make them in a jelly roll pan and see how that works out. It's all trial and error and they taste really good. Quite refreshing and really satisfy that craving for something sweet. :)
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Slow Cooker Chicken Caccitore
I remember having this as a kid. My mom used to make it with chicken thighs...I don't much like dark meat anymore and wanted to cut out the fat so I used boneless skinless chicken breasts.
Chicken Caccitore in the slow cooker
3 Chicken breast halves cut up into chunks (I used boneless, skinless)
1 8 oz pkg mushrooms (sliced)
1 can diced tomatoes
2 -3 bell peppers sliced into strips ( I used 1 of each red, yellow & orange)
1 large onion roughly chopped
1/2 tbsp oregano
1/2 tbsp basil
4 garlic cloves
1 1/2 cups fat free/ low sodium chicken stock
place all ingredients in slow cooker and stir to mix, cook on low for 7 hours. To thicken sauce before serving use a little cornstarch dissolved in some chicken stock or cold water and add to crockpot, stir and let cook for a few minutes till thickened.
Serve over whole wheat pasta of your choice or egg noodles. I made homemade egg noodles to go with this dish...see pic below. :)
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Monday
Here goes, day one of my journey to get 100 lbs off this old 45 year old frame.
Started out my day with about 15 minutes of stretches and Yoga breathing. Kids were up doing their thing already so that made things easier to do this first thing when I got up.
I drove the kids to school and came back to start my day with a healthy breakfast. **NOTE: I do not plan to count calories...too overwhelming for me....so healthier, lower fat and lower sugar choices and portion control are going to be key for me.**
Breakfast was - 1 cup homemade yogurt, 1 cup blueberries, 1/2 cup homemade granola, 6 oz OJ, 1 cup black coffee
I poached some chicken and started a big pot of Chicken soup this morning. Drank a couple of glasses of water, they were about 20 oz each. :) Lunch probably wasn't the best choice but, it was quick and easy since I have to take Shelby to the doc in a bit.
LUNCH- PF CHANGS General Tso Chicken (ate the whole thing and that was 2 servings) It's all about striving for the goal right?? One small step at a time.
My goal is not to eat anything else until dinner, where I will eat chicken soup. (I am going to put some broccoli in my bowl to add more veggies and I was considering not having pasta in mine, but not quite sure just yet. Will post later as to what I decide to do.
Now off to pick up Shelby from school and take her to her appointment, then pick up Elizabeth. Then Ryan after his band practice. I have an appointment to get my hair cut and colored today at 4:30pm so hoping that the new cut, new attitude, new outlook on life will certainly help me to stay on task and keep up with my goals. I may even have time to run to the grocery store to pick up a sugar free cake mix and a box of angel food cake mix...I saw a cool recipe on Pinterest where you mix the two boxes of mix together in a baggie, then when you want something sweet...you put 3 tablespoons of cake mix in a big mug w/ 2 tbsp of water and put in the microwave and BAM!! You have dessert, so I am thinking this might help with my chocolate cravings and not make me feel so guilty. With some low fat aerosol whipped cream it would certainly be a treat!! :)
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Started out my day with about 15 minutes of stretches and Yoga breathing. Kids were up doing their thing already so that made things easier to do this first thing when I got up.
I drove the kids to school and came back to start my day with a healthy breakfast. **NOTE: I do not plan to count calories...too overwhelming for me....so healthier, lower fat and lower sugar choices and portion control are going to be key for me.**
Breakfast was - 1 cup homemade yogurt, 1 cup blueberries, 1/2 cup homemade granola, 6 oz OJ, 1 cup black coffee
I poached some chicken and started a big pot of Chicken soup this morning. Drank a couple of glasses of water, they were about 20 oz each. :) Lunch probably wasn't the best choice but, it was quick and easy since I have to take Shelby to the doc in a bit.
LUNCH- PF CHANGS General Tso Chicken (ate the whole thing and that was 2 servings) It's all about striving for the goal right?? One small step at a time.
My goal is not to eat anything else until dinner, where I will eat chicken soup. (I am going to put some broccoli in my bowl to add more veggies and I was considering not having pasta in mine, but not quite sure just yet. Will post later as to what I decide to do.
Now off to pick up Shelby from school and take her to her appointment, then pick up Elizabeth. Then Ryan after his band practice. I have an appointment to get my hair cut and colored today at 4:30pm so hoping that the new cut, new attitude, new outlook on life will certainly help me to stay on task and keep up with my goals. I may even have time to run to the grocery store to pick up a sugar free cake mix and a box of angel food cake mix...I saw a cool recipe on Pinterest where you mix the two boxes of mix together in a baggie, then when you want something sweet...you put 3 tablespoons of cake mix in a big mug w/ 2 tbsp of water and put in the microwave and BAM!! You have dessert, so I am thinking this might help with my chocolate cravings and not make me feel so guilty. With some low fat aerosol whipped cream it would certainly be a treat!! :)
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Changes part 2.....my health!!
I am afraid of dying....there I said it!!
Lately there have been too many younger people dying, and I refuse to be one of them. I have not been great at taking care of my health on a consistent basis. I go through spurts of healthy eating and moderate exercise and I even lose a few pounds. Only to get cocky and go back to eating the wrong things and then feeling worse than I did. I can't keep doing this to myself. Torturing myself with food. So today I make a pact with myself. Be conscious of what I am eating.
1. Write down everything I eat or drink EVERYDAY!!
2. Get off my ass and move more. Whether it be treadmill, yoga, stretches, Eliptical , bike...
3. Decrease portions by at least half of what I have been eating.
4. Drink more WATER!! (I used to be good at this part, but have really gotten complacent)
5. Eat more fruits and veggies for snacks and desserts.
6. Cut back on alcohol consumption to 1x a week. (No more than 2 glasses of wine, or 2 mixed drinks or 2 beers.)
7. Reduce stress!!!!
8. BLOG more!!!
I know I have been here before but the weight I was this morning was appalling. 293 lbs!! I need to lose 100 lbs!! I just have to do it....it must be done. This is the end of the line! I refuse to be 300+ lbs. I am close enough to it and I don't like it!! End of the line!! This is my wake up call.
I will post new recipes that I try, and I will still be doing the once a month cooking to make things much easier.
So here goes. I am going to put my meals and menus on here so I can just come back and edit at the end of the day and post it.
I am praying hard that this is the last time I re-start!!!
Thanks for reading, I appreciate comments, suggestions, any help at this point would be welcomed for sure!!
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Lately there have been too many younger people dying, and I refuse to be one of them. I have not been great at taking care of my health on a consistent basis. I go through spurts of healthy eating and moderate exercise and I even lose a few pounds. Only to get cocky and go back to eating the wrong things and then feeling worse than I did. I can't keep doing this to myself. Torturing myself with food. So today I make a pact with myself. Be conscious of what I am eating.
1. Write down everything I eat or drink EVERYDAY!!
2. Get off my ass and move more. Whether it be treadmill, yoga, stretches, Eliptical , bike...
3. Decrease portions by at least half of what I have been eating.
4. Drink more WATER!! (I used to be good at this part, but have really gotten complacent)
5. Eat more fruits and veggies for snacks and desserts.
6. Cut back on alcohol consumption to 1x a week. (No more than 2 glasses of wine, or 2 mixed drinks or 2 beers.)
7. Reduce stress!!!!
8. BLOG more!!!
I know I have been here before but the weight I was this morning was appalling. 293 lbs!! I need to lose 100 lbs!! I just have to do it....it must be done. This is the end of the line! I refuse to be 300+ lbs. I am close enough to it and I don't like it!! End of the line!! This is my wake up call.
I will post new recipes that I try, and I will still be doing the once a month cooking to make things much easier.
So here goes. I am going to put my meals and menus on here so I can just come back and edit at the end of the day and post it.
I am praying hard that this is the last time I re-start!!!
Thanks for reading, I appreciate comments, suggestions, any help at this point would be welcomed for sure!!
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Zuppa Tuscana soup
Have been in the mood for this soup!! Love it at Olive Garden but so easy to make at home too!!
Zuppa Tuscana soup
1 lb ground sweet italian sausage cooked and drained
4 medium potatoes peeled and cut into bite sized cubes
2 jars alfredo sauce
1/2 jar milk to thin sauce to taste
Salt and pepper to taste.
Red pepper flakes to taste (optional)
Cook sausage and drain, in a pot mix together all ingredients and simmer until potatoes are fork tender. Serve with crusty bread or garlic breadsticks and a side salad.
** red pepper flakes can be omitted if you dont' want the extra heat** Or you can substitute the sweet sausage for spicy sausage if you like it hot!! Reheats great too!
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Zuppa Tuscana soup
1 lb ground sweet italian sausage cooked and drained
4 medium potatoes peeled and cut into bite sized cubes
2 jars alfredo sauce
1/2 jar milk to thin sauce to taste
Salt and pepper to taste.
Red pepper flakes to taste (optional)
Cook sausage and drain, in a pot mix together all ingredients and simmer until potatoes are fork tender. Serve with crusty bread or garlic breadsticks and a side salad.
** red pepper flakes can be omitted if you dont' want the extra heat** Or you can substitute the sweet sausage for spicy sausage if you like it hot!! Reheats great too!
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Speaking of changes.....
And we were.........
I think I need a change in hairstyle. I know it seems trivial to some, but for me my hair is something I change pretty frequently. Cut, color, style....it's something I don't take lightly and something every so often I just have to change. I have been letting my hair grow for about a year or so now, and I am pretty much tired of this same hairdo. I am also afraid that using the flat iron everyday is damaging it too much despite my use of products to inhibit breakage etc.
I posted on Facebook about it and asked if there were any thoughts. A friend posted this pic to give me an idea of a hairstyle.
I do like it a lot!!
The only question I have is....1. Am I too old to try to wear this hairstyle??
2. Is my face too fat and round to wear this style?? 3. What color would I do it? * since I have like 2 inch roots and tons of new grey to cover up but not enough grey to just let it be grey* (sigh) And YES, I know that was more than 1 question...sheesh!! LOL
I found a couple of more on Pinterest that I like a lot...guess I could post those here too and see what the consensus is. :)
So here goes......
Hair Style No. 1
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
I think I need a change in hairstyle. I know it seems trivial to some, but for me my hair is something I change pretty frequently. Cut, color, style....it's something I don't take lightly and something every so often I just have to change. I have been letting my hair grow for about a year or so now, and I am pretty much tired of this same hairdo. I am also afraid that using the flat iron everyday is damaging it too much despite my use of products to inhibit breakage etc.
I do like it a lot!!
The only question I have is....1. Am I too old to try to wear this hairstyle??
2. Is my face too fat and round to wear this style?? 3. What color would I do it? * since I have like 2 inch roots and tons of new grey to cover up but not enough grey to just let it be grey* (sigh) And YES, I know that was more than 1 question...sheesh!! LOL
I found a couple of more on Pinterest that I like a lot...guess I could post those here too and see what the consensus is. :)
So here goes......
Hair Style No. 1
Hair style No. 2
Hair Style No. 3
Hair Style No. 4
Any help, advice, feedback, or critiques are welcome!! :)
Thanks in advance for any and all input!!
I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Changes
Change is good. Or so I am told anyway. Today I am re-working and making some changes to my blog which are long overdue. My intent is to have just ONE blog, not 3 to serve all my needs. I was just about to re-invigorate an old diet blog I had started and re-started countless times. Then I thought to myself, "why are you making this more complicated than it needs to be?" So I nixed that idea and just changed up the name of this one a bit, added a few things, took out a few things and voila!! What you see here is a little bit more organized than it used to be that is for sure. More user friendly I would say.
What do you think?? I have always wanted to spend more time blogging. I think I make it more difficult than it has to be honestly. But, I do that with most things. LOL I am learning to think before I act or react. I know what you are thinking..."What a concept"!!
It is saving me more time than I ever thought possible and I like it!!
So hopefully more people will visit me here.....it is my hope anyway.
I have some housework to get done before it gets too late in the day, but I will return hopefully with something witty, sarcastic or even informative to say.
Please stop in whenever you get a chance.....Thanks and have a blessed day!!
I Corinthians 13:4-7
4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
What do you think?? I have always wanted to spend more time blogging. I think I make it more difficult than it has to be honestly. But, I do that with most things. LOL I am learning to think before I act or react. I know what you are thinking..."What a concept"!!
It is saving me more time than I ever thought possible and I like it!!
So hopefully more people will visit me here.....it is my hope anyway.
I have some housework to get done before it gets too late in the day, but I will return hopefully with something witty, sarcastic or even informative to say.
Please stop in whenever you get a chance.....Thanks and have a blessed day!!
I Corinthians 13:4-7
4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Monday, February 6, 2012
You gotta have Faith!!
Life is too short...Be gracious, be loving, be kind, be forgiving and most of all don't forget God is in control. Our time on this earth is up when HE says it is....wouldn't you rather spend each day Loving rather than Hating???
This was my FB status post this morning.
In light of an accident this weekend that took the lives of a local husband and wife ages 47 & 46 respectively. I find myself pondering about life and just how short it is. They were tragically taken away too soon in my eyes, leaving behind 4 God loving children.
Sure I get caught up in the day to day hustle and bustle of laundry, dishes, getting kids to and from school, cooking meals, etc.....All while knowing in my mind and heart that God is the one in control. For me I seem to fall into this land of complacency where I don't want to think about the possibility of leaving this world before my children get to hit many more milestones, like graduating from high school, going on to college, getting married, and having babies. I don't like to think about it. I don't know if anyone really does actually. Being a Christian I have peace in knowing that when I do leave this earth I will go to be with my Lord and Savior. But still, I am selfish and don't want to miss out. Accidents happen and so do illnesses for which we have no real control over. I guess this is where my Faith gets tested and the control freak of a mom/wife/person has to "Let Go and Let God". I feel as if some people have just "got it all together", they have their Faith and they "KNOW". I feel like I have Faith and Know to some extent but somehow something in me feels like if I just did _______, or __________ that I can prevent such tragic events or pain from touching our lives.
Why can't it be easier?? Why can't I unequivocally just "KNOW". I think my answers lie in my FAITH, in the Bible and in Trusting God. I seem to step off the path every now and then. Perhaps this is God's way of getting me to come off the side of the road and continue to walk ON the path, and IN his footsteps.
I pray that God would guide me and grant me the grace to relinquish control over things I cannot control. To guide me and lead me where it is He wants me to go. Amen
4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. I Corinthians 13:4-7
This was my FB status post this morning.
In light of an accident this weekend that took the lives of a local husband and wife ages 47 & 46 respectively. I find myself pondering about life and just how short it is. They were tragically taken away too soon in my eyes, leaving behind 4 God loving children.
Sure I get caught up in the day to day hustle and bustle of laundry, dishes, getting kids to and from school, cooking meals, etc.....All while knowing in my mind and heart that God is the one in control. For me I seem to fall into this land of complacency where I don't want to think about the possibility of leaving this world before my children get to hit many more milestones, like graduating from high school, going on to college, getting married, and having babies. I don't like to think about it. I don't know if anyone really does actually. Being a Christian I have peace in knowing that when I do leave this earth I will go to be with my Lord and Savior. But still, I am selfish and don't want to miss out. Accidents happen and so do illnesses for which we have no real control over. I guess this is where my Faith gets tested and the control freak of a mom/wife/person has to "Let Go and Let God". I feel as if some people have just "got it all together", they have their Faith and they "KNOW". I feel like I have Faith and Know to some extent but somehow something in me feels like if I just did _______, or __________ that I can prevent such tragic events or pain from touching our lives.
Why can't it be easier?? Why can't I unequivocally just "KNOW". I think my answers lie in my FAITH, in the Bible and in Trusting God. I seem to step off the path every now and then. Perhaps this is God's way of getting me to come off the side of the road and continue to walk ON the path, and IN his footsteps.
I pray that God would guide me and grant me the grace to relinquish control over things I cannot control. To guide me and lead me where it is He wants me to go. Amen
4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. I Corinthians 13:4-7
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Melissa's Homemade Granola Recipe
I love granola on my yogurt....it gives it a crunchy and nutty flavor that just goes great with yogurt. Since I have been making my own homemade yogurt I have really been wanting some granola to put on top. But...as you know most of the store bought granola is not only expensive, but loaded with fat and sugars. So after researching and checking out about a million recipes....(well not really a million...closer to like 20) LOL
I came up with this recipe just winged it today and made some up and it is so good!! *if I do say so myself*
Here is what you need.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
line a cookie sheet w/ and edge on it w/ silpat or parchment. (don't spray the pan cause we are trying to avoid adding extra fat calories)
In a bowl mix together
1/3 cup raw sunflower seeds (no shell)
1/3 cup raw Pumpkin seeds (no shell) *these are also known as Pepitas*
1/3 cup sliced raw almonds
2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
Place this all evenly on the cookie sheet and bake on 350. **the goal here is to toast the nut/oat mixture so check it and toss it around every few minutes. They won't come out really dark, but you should be able to smell it giving off a toasty smell**
In a small saucepan combine
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup Agave nectar (you could also use honey here as well)
1 tbsp coconut oil
2 tbsp Demerara Sugar
1 tsp vanilla
**heat on very low just until coconut oil is melted and and the sugar crystals are dissolved**
Remove oat mix from oven and carefully put back in bowl while still warm. Pour the coconut oil/agave mixture on top and stir in well...it might not look like enough but it is plenty. Coat the oat/nut mixture well.
Put the mix back onto the silpat lined baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes. Checking it a time or two. Toss it around once and spread it back out to cover the pan.
Remove from oven and let cool in the pan. When cooled you can lift one corner of the silpat and use it to crumble the granola into small clusters.
Place in an airtight container and use for cereal or toppings for yogurt or ice cream.
If you want to add fruit to your granola...you should just add it when you are ready to eat or else it will make your granola soggy and lose it's crunch.
Makes 8 (1/4 cup) servings at approx 180 calories per serving
ENJOY!!!
4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. I Corinthians 13:4-7
I came up with this recipe just winged it today and made some up and it is so good!! *if I do say so myself*
Here is what you need.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
line a cookie sheet w/ and edge on it w/ silpat or parchment. (don't spray the pan cause we are trying to avoid adding extra fat calories)
In a bowl mix together
1/3 cup raw sunflower seeds (no shell)
1/3 cup raw Pumpkin seeds (no shell) *these are also known as Pepitas*
1/3 cup sliced raw almonds
2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
Place this all evenly on the cookie sheet and bake on 350. **the goal here is to toast the nut/oat mixture so check it and toss it around every few minutes. They won't come out really dark, but you should be able to smell it giving off a toasty smell**
In a small saucepan combine
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup Agave nectar (you could also use honey here as well)
1 tbsp coconut oil
2 tbsp Demerara Sugar
1 tsp vanilla
**heat on very low just until coconut oil is melted and and the sugar crystals are dissolved**
Remove oat mix from oven and carefully put back in bowl while still warm. Pour the coconut oil/agave mixture on top and stir in well...it might not look like enough but it is plenty. Coat the oat/nut mixture well.
Put the mix back onto the silpat lined baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes. Checking it a time or two. Toss it around once and spread it back out to cover the pan.
Remove from oven and let cool in the pan. When cooled you can lift one corner of the silpat and use it to crumble the granola into small clusters.
Place in an airtight container and use for cereal or toppings for yogurt or ice cream.
If you want to add fruit to your granola...you should just add it when you are ready to eat or else it will make your granola soggy and lose it's crunch.
Makes 8 (1/4 cup) servings at approx 180 calories per serving
ENJOY!!!
4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. I Corinthians 13:4-7
Monday, January 30, 2012
This is so true....
 |
| Mother Theresa really knew what she was talking about. :) |
4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. I Corinthians 13:4-7
Monday, January 16, 2012
Meatball Calzone & Pizza dough recipe
If you have been following my blog recently I have begun cooking ahead and freezing meals in order to not only save time but to save money and feed my family more healthy, home cooked meals. I am excited to keep doing this and this doesn't mean I am just reheating meals. I find more time to figure out other meals that can be frozen and to prepare other things like Cinnamon rolls, cookie balls that can be frozen and also time to perfect a bread recipe to make at home that freezes well. I am also trying to get all these recipes entered here so my friends can access them easily and I can use them for reference each month when menu planning.
So here goes another recipe using things I froze a couple of weeks ago.
MEATBALL CALZONES
Here is just another use for the meatballs and pasta sauce that was premade, they don't have to be used strictly for spaghetti and meatballs anymore. :)
**you can also just make meatball hoagies if you don't have time to make the dough**
1 baggie of frozen meatballs (from freeze ahead meals recipe)
1 baggie of sauce (from freeze ahead meals recipe)
Homemade pizza dough
Provolone cheese slices
Shredded mozzarella cheese
Place meatballs and sauce into crockpot and cook on hi for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.
make pizza dough from recipe below.
PIZZA DOUGH
1 tbsp yeast (I use quick rise yeast)
1 c warm water
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp butter, softened
2 3/4 cup flour
add sugar to water, soften yeast in sugar/water mixture (about 5-10 mins.)
Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Knead dough for several minutes. Let rise for 1 hour. Cut dough in half, roll each out to be rectangles. Place on greased cookie sheet before filling w/ meatballs!!!
Place cheese slices on dough down the middle, (leave about 1 1/2 inches at top and bottom and on the sides leave enough room to fold over meatballs and cheese to seal closed.) add sauce and meatballs, sprinkle with mozzarella. Fold bottom and top of dough then sides and seal well. You can brush with egg wash or just place it in the oven. Make two small slits in the top to allow steam to escape. Bake at 400 degrees until dough is fully cooked and golden brown. Let it rest about 10 -15 mins before cutting so cheese can set up a bit and doesn't run out all over.
Easy, delicious and fun for the kids to help make also.
ENJOY!!
4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. I Corinthians 13:4-7
So here goes another recipe using things I froze a couple of weeks ago.
MEATBALL CALZONES
Here is just another use for the meatballs and pasta sauce that was premade, they don't have to be used strictly for spaghetti and meatballs anymore. :)
**you can also just make meatball hoagies if you don't have time to make the dough**
1 baggie of frozen meatballs (from freeze ahead meals recipe)
1 baggie of sauce (from freeze ahead meals recipe)
Homemade pizza dough
Provolone cheese slices
Shredded mozzarella cheese
Place meatballs and sauce into crockpot and cook on hi for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.
make pizza dough from recipe below.
PIZZA DOUGH
1 tbsp yeast (I use quick rise yeast)
1 c warm water
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp butter, softened
2 3/4 cup flour
add sugar to water, soften yeast in sugar/water mixture (about 5-10 mins.)
Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Knead dough for several minutes. Let rise for 1 hour. Cut dough in half, roll each out to be rectangles. Place on greased cookie sheet before filling w/ meatballs!!!
Place cheese slices on dough down the middle, (leave about 1 1/2 inches at top and bottom and on the sides leave enough room to fold over meatballs and cheese to seal closed.) add sauce and meatballs, sprinkle with mozzarella. Fold bottom and top of dough then sides and seal well. You can brush with egg wash or just place it in the oven. Make two small slits in the top to allow steam to escape. Bake at 400 degrees until dough is fully cooked and golden brown. Let it rest about 10 -15 mins before cutting so cheese can set up a bit and doesn't run out all over.
Easy, delicious and fun for the kids to help make also.
ENJOY!!
4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. I Corinthians 13:4-7
More yummy freezer recipes
Who doesn't like a warm cinnamon roll fresh out of the oven? Sure we go out and buy them at the store, warm em up in the microwave, all the while hoping they will taste like the "from scratch" ones we had that one time.
For a long time I didn't like to try such things. Afraid that they wouldn't come out tasting light and fluffy with just enough cinnamon sugar and yummy glaze over the top.
Well I have the answer to all those who think they can't make a good cinnamon roll. Before I give you the recipe I am going to say I have to give credit where credit is due. I got this recipe from a friend in a MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) group I once belonged to when my kids were little. Evelyn H. I owe these all to you lady!! Your recipe has earned me praises from my family and for that I Thank You!! :)
Cinnamon Rolls
3/4 cup white sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks)
2 eggs beaten
6 cups flour
1 tbsp dry yeast (I buy the quick rise in the jar)
1 cup warm water
1 cup boiling water
*Filling*
brown sugar and cinnamon (I don't measure this but approximately 1/3 cup sugar) Cinnamon as much as you like about 2 tbsp or so I would guess.
*frosting*
powdered sugar (about 2 cups)
Unsweetened vanilla almond milk (start out with just a couple of tablespoons and work it in till smooth and consistency you like)
vanilla extract 1-2 tsps depending on taste you like.
Place white sugar, salt and butter into mixing bowl.
Pour boiling water over top of butter, sugar salt mixture
place yeast into 1 cup of warm water and let rise (I sometimes add a pinch of sugar to this)
Add 2 cups flour and the beaten eggs to first mixture, then add yeast, then add the rest of the flour.
mix thoroughly. Do not remove the dough from the mixing bowl. Place in a draft free place to rise.
When dough is double in size, punch it down and let rise again till double.
You can stop now or you can let it rise another time. I often let it rise 3 times before rolling it out.
Dough will still be a little sticky so I place a piece of parchment on my counter and flour it lightly before laying out the dough.
Roll out the dough into a rectangle about 1/8 in thick.
Sprinkle with some milk or cream. (* I use vanilla almond milk*)
sprinkle sugar/cinnamon mixture on top of milk.
roll using the parchment to help roll more evenly.
cut into 1 - 1 1/2 in slices and place in greased pans. Let rise again till doubled and bake at 350 degrees about 20 minutes.
Drizzle glaze on while still warm. ENJOY!!
**if you want to freeze these, slice them and lay them in a ziploc baggie flat and lay flat in freezer till firm.** to bake place frozen rolls in greased pan and let rise till double, bake at 350 for 20 minutes.**
4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. I Corinthians 13:4-7
For a long time I didn't like to try such things. Afraid that they wouldn't come out tasting light and fluffy with just enough cinnamon sugar and yummy glaze over the top.
Well I have the answer to all those who think they can't make a good cinnamon roll. Before I give you the recipe I am going to say I have to give credit where credit is due. I got this recipe from a friend in a MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) group I once belonged to when my kids were little. Evelyn H. I owe these all to you lady!! Your recipe has earned me praises from my family and for that I Thank You!! :)
Cinnamon Rolls
3/4 cup white sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks)
2 eggs beaten
6 cups flour
1 tbsp dry yeast (I buy the quick rise in the jar)
1 cup warm water
1 cup boiling water
*Filling*
brown sugar and cinnamon (I don't measure this but approximately 1/3 cup sugar) Cinnamon as much as you like about 2 tbsp or so I would guess.
*frosting*
powdered sugar (about 2 cups)
Unsweetened vanilla almond milk (start out with just a couple of tablespoons and work it in till smooth and consistency you like)
vanilla extract 1-2 tsps depending on taste you like.
Place white sugar, salt and butter into mixing bowl.
Pour boiling water over top of butter, sugar salt mixture
place yeast into 1 cup of warm water and let rise (I sometimes add a pinch of sugar to this)
Add 2 cups flour and the beaten eggs to first mixture, then add yeast, then add the rest of the flour.
mix thoroughly. Do not remove the dough from the mixing bowl. Place in a draft free place to rise.
When dough is double in size, punch it down and let rise again till double.
You can stop now or you can let it rise another time. I often let it rise 3 times before rolling it out.
Dough will still be a little sticky so I place a piece of parchment on my counter and flour it lightly before laying out the dough.
Roll out the dough into a rectangle about 1/8 in thick.
Sprinkle with some milk or cream. (* I use vanilla almond milk*)
sprinkle sugar/cinnamon mixture on top of milk.
roll using the parchment to help roll more evenly.
cut into 1 - 1 1/2 in slices and place in greased pans. Let rise again till doubled and bake at 350 degrees about 20 minutes.
Drizzle glaze on while still warm. ENJOY!!
**if you want to freeze these, slice them and lay them in a ziploc baggie flat and lay flat in freezer till firm.** to bake place frozen rolls in greased pan and let rise till double, bake at 350 for 20 minutes.**
4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. I Corinthians 13:4-7
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