A while back I told of an experience in which I made potato soup. The soup won. Despite cooking all day the potatoes never softened. I'm pretty sure they were mutant potato rocks not meant for human consumption.
So, I gathered my wits and tackled creamy potato soup once more. This time I used a recipe I pinned to Pinterest: Slow cooker Loaded Baked potato Soup. I was intrigued by the slow cooker part, however the slow cooker was largely un needed. As a matter of fact, if you don't have a larger slow cooker, it won't fit! My slow cooker is five quarts and it BARELY fit. I had to switch containers for the final step. This recipe is also pretty big. It fed my family of six and we still had leftovers.
This soup is creamy (without heavy cream), garlic-y and just plain old good! It would have been better with bacon, but this WAS my meatless meal for the week. I thought I'd better not crumble a bunch of bacon in it, but next time...
The prep took FOR - E - VER, dicing 5 lbs. of potatoes is not quick. I think it was worth it though. All of the children, even the finicky ones, ate a huge bowl full with cheese sprinkled on top (making yummy sounds all the way through). The time consuming part was prepping all those potatoes! I think next time I make it I'll probably forgo the slow cooker and just cook it on the stovetop. Although, the slow cooker would make it handy for days when I'll be gone all day...so rare. The best part? No mutant potatoes that refuse to get soft. No rock soup!
I just did a one hour exercise class and 10 miles on a bike yesterday evening. I'm pretty sure my legs are going to fall off. But I kinda liked it......
Friday, August 24, 2012
Friday, August 17, 2012
Goldilocks....and Porridge
This week....Oh! this week....
We have started to prepare for our new school schedule (which starts Sept. 3rd) by getting up earlier in the mornings. The schedule I have worked up has us starting school work at 8. That means that breakfast must be eaten, chores must be done, people must be dressed and teeth brushed all before 8 a.m. Ugh. I have never been a morning person. I like to sleep. I NEED 8 hours of sleep to not feel tired. I LIKE to have more. That ain't happening. We are getting up at 6 a.m. Well except for yesterday when I forgot to turn my alarm on. I slept til 7:30. I'm sure you must feel how upset I was by that. If I sit still too long I tend to fall asleep. I keep telling myself I just need to get used to the schedule. Oh man how I wish my belly would let me have caffeine!!!
I tried a new breakfast recipe. Refrigerator Oatmeal (Summer Porridge) I'm still trying out all the various flavors. I found chia seeds on Amazon. I wonder if I could have gotten it at my local mom and pop health food store. It's so far away, I didn't even try. This stuff is delicious! The first flavor we tried was a variation of the Blueberry Maple. We don't have any maple syrup in the house so I used honey. Most everyone liked it. Not all loved it though. I had one kid that ate around the blueberries and another that ate only blueberries. Once I did a little grocery shopping I made the recipe again. I made Blueberry and Honey again for my oldest and his dad. They are some that really liked it the first time. Then, I made some of the other kids peanut butter banana. They loved this flavor! They actually said that. "I love this stuff!" I had banana cocoa. That one was very yummy. Maybe my favorite. There are so many different flavor combinations though, that I'm going to keep trying them until I find my favorites. I think apple cinnamon is next!
Our meatless meal was veggie spaghetti....again. This time I put squash and canned beans in the sauce. It was just okay. Maybe it's that we're all getting tired of veggie spaghetti. I've got to scour the internet for new veggie recipes. The same thing over and over is getting old. I really want a gumbo though. If only this weather would cool off!
I had been having a great run with my IBS. No symptoms since I changed my probiotic. Then, last weekend I went to my sister-in-law's baby shower. There was lots of rich food there. That was Saturday. Sunday, I almost died. Not really, but man I was sick. I know better, but I said "it's fine." It was not fine. I wonder if I'll ever be able to control my impulse to eat things that will hurt me. There was one thing there though, that I would love to make myself. It was a puff pastry filled with orange creme and topped with fresh fruit. I ate one. I wanted to eat them ALL! I hear my husband's aunt has this recipe. My mother in law keeps her recipe cards close to her vest, so I might have to see if I can get the recipe for these from Auntie....They really are so very good!
I've been faithfully going to the gym twice a week while my husband plays zookeeper. I haven't counted calories, but have tried to make wise choices (except for Saturday). My reward? I've lost about 10 pounds. This makes me happy. Not that I care what I look like altogether too much, but I know it means I'll be that much healthier. And next year when the doctor looks at me and says "are you exercising?" I can say, "why yes I am!"
We have started to prepare for our new school schedule (which starts Sept. 3rd) by getting up earlier in the mornings. The schedule I have worked up has us starting school work at 8. That means that breakfast must be eaten, chores must be done, people must be dressed and teeth brushed all before 8 a.m. Ugh. I have never been a morning person. I like to sleep. I NEED 8 hours of sleep to not feel tired. I LIKE to have more. That ain't happening. We are getting up at 6 a.m. Well except for yesterday when I forgot to turn my alarm on. I slept til 7:30. I'm sure you must feel how upset I was by that. If I sit still too long I tend to fall asleep. I keep telling myself I just need to get used to the schedule. Oh man how I wish my belly would let me have caffeine!!!
I tried a new breakfast recipe. Refrigerator Oatmeal (Summer Porridge) I'm still trying out all the various flavors. I found chia seeds on Amazon. I wonder if I could have gotten it at my local mom and pop health food store. It's so far away, I didn't even try. This stuff is delicious! The first flavor we tried was a variation of the Blueberry Maple. We don't have any maple syrup in the house so I used honey. Most everyone liked it. Not all loved it though. I had one kid that ate around the blueberries and another that ate only blueberries. Once I did a little grocery shopping I made the recipe again. I made Blueberry and Honey again for my oldest and his dad. They are some that really liked it the first time. Then, I made some of the other kids peanut butter banana. They loved this flavor! They actually said that. "I love this stuff!" I had banana cocoa. That one was very yummy. Maybe my favorite. There are so many different flavor combinations though, that I'm going to keep trying them until I find my favorites. I think apple cinnamon is next!
Our meatless meal was veggie spaghetti....again. This time I put squash and canned beans in the sauce. It was just okay. Maybe it's that we're all getting tired of veggie spaghetti. I've got to scour the internet for new veggie recipes. The same thing over and over is getting old. I really want a gumbo though. If only this weather would cool off!
I had been having a great run with my IBS. No symptoms since I changed my probiotic. Then, last weekend I went to my sister-in-law's baby shower. There was lots of rich food there. That was Saturday. Sunday, I almost died. Not really, but man I was sick. I know better, but I said "it's fine." It was not fine. I wonder if I'll ever be able to control my impulse to eat things that will hurt me. There was one thing there though, that I would love to make myself. It was a puff pastry filled with orange creme and topped with fresh fruit. I ate one. I wanted to eat them ALL! I hear my husband's aunt has this recipe. My mother in law keeps her recipe cards close to her vest, so I might have to see if I can get the recipe for these from Auntie....They really are so very good!
I've been faithfully going to the gym twice a week while my husband plays zookeeper. I haven't counted calories, but have tried to make wise choices (except for Saturday). My reward? I've lost about 10 pounds. This makes me happy. Not that I care what I look like altogether too much, but I know it means I'll be that much healthier. And next year when the doctor looks at me and says "are you exercising?" I can say, "why yes I am!"
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Lentils.....and Yogurt
But not together! This week our meatless meal was lentils and rice. Dad was out of town and we invited Grandma over for dinner. She liked my lentils. I'm so proud! :) All the children, even the newest additions were all about eating some rice and "beans" the littles don't exactly get what a lentil is but when I said "bean" their little Cajun hearts leapt with joy!
Lentils were not my shining culinary moment this week though. I made Greek yogurt.....in my slow cooker! I came across a recipe and "pinned" it. The recipe was simple and effective! I was so happy that I MADE organic Greek yogurt for much less than I would have paid to buy it.
Yesterday the children had a yummy breakfast of silver dollar pancakes and fruit. They dipped it all in home made yogurt sweetened with a little bit of local honey. I felt so wholesome while I watched them chow down as I sipped on my fancy smoothie made of bananas, soy milk and dates.
Soon I'll be experimenting with another "pinned" recipe for "Summer Porridge". I'm excited to try it. I wonder if the kids will like it. Stay tuned...
I'm still going to the gym regularly, which is a miracle from God only made possible by my husband's insistence that I get away. I take a class that gives me some toning exercises since I've overcome the weirdness of going to a class. I have NOT overcome the weirdness of standing in the gym and reading the sticker that shows how to use the machine...so class it is. My favorite part though is biking. Weird. My in-laws cycle and I'm always making fun of them and their long bike rides. Here I am though on a stationary bike going 12, 13, 14 miles and enjoying it! I wonder if I'd go farther if I hadn't just gotten out of a one hour exercise class. I still don't see myself ever getting into a pair of those ridiculously tight padded shorts....
Lentils were not my shining culinary moment this week though. I made Greek yogurt.....in my slow cooker! I came across a recipe and "pinned" it. The recipe was simple and effective! I was so happy that I MADE organic Greek yogurt for much less than I would have paid to buy it.
Yesterday the children had a yummy breakfast of silver dollar pancakes and fruit. They dipped it all in home made yogurt sweetened with a little bit of local honey. I felt so wholesome while I watched them chow down as I sipped on my fancy smoothie made of bananas, soy milk and dates.
Soon I'll be experimenting with another "pinned" recipe for "Summer Porridge". I'm excited to try it. I wonder if the kids will like it. Stay tuned...
I'm still going to the gym regularly, which is a miracle from God only made possible by my husband's insistence that I get away. I take a class that gives me some toning exercises since I've overcome the weirdness of going to a class. I have NOT overcome the weirdness of standing in the gym and reading the sticker that shows how to use the machine...so class it is. My favorite part though is biking. Weird. My in-laws cycle and I'm always making fun of them and their long bike rides. Here I am though on a stationary bike going 12, 13, 14 miles and enjoying it! I wonder if I'd go farther if I hadn't just gotten out of a one hour exercise class. I still don't see myself ever getting into a pair of those ridiculously tight padded shorts....
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Bread Bowls and....Classes
Tonight was meatless Tuesday. I don't even want to know how many calories were in the broccoli and cheese soup served in a homemade bread bowl! My husband does know, but I asked him not to tell me. It was good though. The kids loved it. They also thought it was cool that they could eat their "bowl". The smaller ones did not grasp the concept and started to eat the bowl before the soup. Dad intervened before mess ensued though.
Speaking of my husband, he's Super dad. He's been shooing me out the door a couple times a week so that I feel I must come to the gym and workout. And now I have a friend who has joined my gym. The classes I had sworn I'd never try because I'd feel stupid? Yeah. She talked me into one. Zumba of all things! I just finished doing an hour of it. Worse? It wasn't that bad. I almost had fun (except for stumbling all over myself because I don't know the moves....and those moves! Ladies, they are not for chaste women!) I don't dance, especially like that!
So, after broccoli cheese soup and half a bread bowl...after one hour of Zumba...guess where I'm typing this. On the app on my phone, on a recumbent bike. Yes, my friends, I think a monster has indeed been created. And maybe, just maybe, I will have burned enough calories for cake.
Speaking of my husband, he's Super dad. He's been shooing me out the door a couple times a week so that I feel I must come to the gym and workout. And now I have a friend who has joined my gym. The classes I had sworn I'd never try because I'd feel stupid? Yeah. She talked me into one. Zumba of all things! I just finished doing an hour of it. Worse? It wasn't that bad. I almost had fun (except for stumbling all over myself because I don't know the moves....and those moves! Ladies, they are not for chaste women!) I don't dance, especially like that!
So, after broccoli cheese soup and half a bread bowl...after one hour of Zumba...guess where I'm typing this. On the app on my phone, on a recumbent bike. Yes, my friends, I think a monster has indeed been created. And maybe, just maybe, I will have burned enough calories for cake.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Procrastination....and Progress
My life has suddenly become so busy that Meatless Monday has become next to impossible to have ACTUALLY on Monday. That's not to say I'm throwing out the idea all together. It just most likely will have to be Totally Tofu Tuesday.....or Wery Weggie Wednesday....
Either way, I'm still committed to a healthier lifestyle for myself and my family...whether they like it or not. I was trying to explain to someone how my brain works. Regulations and restrictions that I have to be constantly mindful of are completely unsustainable to me. My life is complicated enough thank you; I do not need something else of which to keep tally. I decided the only way for me to live a healthier existence is to let it happen naturally. One change at a time. (I'm pretty sure I was not this articulate and coherent while explaining it verbally...)
Unfortunately, my husband took the last (and hardest) change in hand for me. There really was nothing left for me to do. I have decreased the amount of food I eat over time. I have begun to make healthier choices. I drink more water. What's left? Exercise. I hate it. I really do.
Last week I talked about getting some much needed alone time by going to the gym. I loathe the idea. Well, my husband reads my blog. He pretty much said, "you need some time off. After dinner tomorrow you should leave." I said, "where will I go?" He cleverly said, "I don't know...your mom's...the gym..." Okay okay...I'm leaving and going to the gym. Well, I have had a membership there since March. I had never set foot in the door. I went for a walk at the outdoor track once, but that was it. Expensive walk...
So I show up at the gym all self conscious in my giant t-shirt and yoga pants. I don't know why I even own yoga pants. I tell the attendant my problem. I know where nothing is or how to work it. He was so nice and walked me all over the gym and showed me all the things. He kept asking if I wanted him to show me this or that. All the machines intimidated me so I asked to just start on a recumbent bike. He brought me over to one of the bikes where there was a svelte looking older lady riding right on the side. As I played the newbie and asked what does this button do and fumbled all over trying to get my feet on the peddles, the lady next to me showed her intolerance for out of shape newbies. I kept hearing giant sighs with each new question I asked. I bit the bullet though and ignored her while I made sure I could operate this piece of machinery. Then the attendant set the bike for a 15 minute "Pike's Peak" workout. What part of "beginner" does he not understand?! And then he left. He abandoned me on Pike's Peak!
Guess what though? I finished that 15 minutes on "Pike's Peak". Then I went back for more. All total I spent an hour and 15 minutes on that bike and rode somewhere between 15 and 16 miles. (I don't remember how far Pike's Peak was.) I mean, yeah, it was a recumbent bike but I did it. And I kind of enjoyed it. Has a monster been created? That remains to be seen. But maybe I'll lose a few more pounds. My doctor would be so proud.
Meatless Tuesday this week was soup, salad and breadsticks. Well, most of us were meatless. We had leftover chicken and dumpling soup. I gave the children a choice. Some chose chicken and dumpling. Others chose minestrone. This time I had all sorts of random veggies in there. Including beet greens and okra. I have decided that you can put anything in this soup and it magically becomes yummy. The new additions to our household were not fond of the "finish your salad" rule. They wanted to eat three leaves of lettuce and call it good. I refused to give them soup until they finished all their salad. They did it, but they were not happy about it. I wonder what terrible veggie filled monstrosity I'll force them to eat next week....
Either way, I'm still committed to a healthier lifestyle for myself and my family...whether they like it or not. I was trying to explain to someone how my brain works. Regulations and restrictions that I have to be constantly mindful of are completely unsustainable to me. My life is complicated enough thank you; I do not need something else of which to keep tally. I decided the only way for me to live a healthier existence is to let it happen naturally. One change at a time. (I'm pretty sure I was not this articulate and coherent while explaining it verbally...)
Unfortunately, my husband took the last (and hardest) change in hand for me. There really was nothing left for me to do. I have decreased the amount of food I eat over time. I have begun to make healthier choices. I drink more water. What's left? Exercise. I hate it. I really do.
Last week I talked about getting some much needed alone time by going to the gym. I loathe the idea. Well, my husband reads my blog. He pretty much said, "you need some time off. After dinner tomorrow you should leave." I said, "where will I go?" He cleverly said, "I don't know...your mom's...the gym..." Okay okay...I'm leaving and going to the gym. Well, I have had a membership there since March. I had never set foot in the door. I went for a walk at the outdoor track once, but that was it. Expensive walk...
So I show up at the gym all self conscious in my giant t-shirt and yoga pants. I don't know why I even own yoga pants. I tell the attendant my problem. I know where nothing is or how to work it. He was so nice and walked me all over the gym and showed me all the things. He kept asking if I wanted him to show me this or that. All the machines intimidated me so I asked to just start on a recumbent bike. He brought me over to one of the bikes where there was a svelte looking older lady riding right on the side. As I played the newbie and asked what does this button do and fumbled all over trying to get my feet on the peddles, the lady next to me showed her intolerance for out of shape newbies. I kept hearing giant sighs with each new question I asked. I bit the bullet though and ignored her while I made sure I could operate this piece of machinery. Then the attendant set the bike for a 15 minute "Pike's Peak" workout. What part of "beginner" does he not understand?! And then he left. He abandoned me on Pike's Peak!
Guess what though? I finished that 15 minutes on "Pike's Peak". Then I went back for more. All total I spent an hour and 15 minutes on that bike and rode somewhere between 15 and 16 miles. (I don't remember how far Pike's Peak was.) I mean, yeah, it was a recumbent bike but I did it. And I kind of enjoyed it. Has a monster been created? That remains to be seen. But maybe I'll lose a few more pounds. My doctor would be so proud.
Meatless Tuesday this week was soup, salad and breadsticks. Well, most of us were meatless. We had leftover chicken and dumpling soup. I gave the children a choice. Some chose chicken and dumpling. Others chose minestrone. This time I had all sorts of random veggies in there. Including beet greens and okra. I have decided that you can put anything in this soup and it magically becomes yummy. The new additions to our household were not fond of the "finish your salad" rule. They wanted to eat three leaves of lettuce and call it good. I refused to give them soup until they finished all their salad. They did it, but they were not happy about it. I wonder what terrible veggie filled monstrosity I'll force them to eat next week....
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Setbacks....and Time out
Remember all that talk about getting it together? About being another year older and really making things happen this time? It seems I really should keep those comments to myself. Evil forces hear them and use them to mock me. What those guys don't know is I'm not easily knocked down. Distracted? Yes. But eventually I remember my goal. Eventually..... This is why it has taken me 3 years to lose 25 pounds. But, darn it, I HAVE managed to keep those pounds off! I just happen to let myself get distracted from losing more.
So, no sooner than those "I'm gonna do this" statements had left my mouth, yet another setback. A distraction...or seven. I started having trouble with IBS again. SEVERE trouble. Then, wham. Foster placement. Suddenly the number of children in my home doubled and I'm trying to parent from the bathroom. (Not effective I might add.)
It took some doing but I finally figured out what caused the tummy trouble. Do yourself a favor. When your health and well being is on the line, don't switch from one probiotic to another just because it's a good bit cheaper. There are reasons.
As far as being outnumbered by children? Well, so far it's okay. I spend most of my day supervising SOMEONE through a time out. Sometimes I wish I could put myself in time out. But wait. I can. AND find a way around my "I'm too busy to exercise" excuse. I'm thinking of taking a couple of days a week and going to the gym after supper. My hubby will be home to wrangle the animals, and I get a very much needed "time out". Now, I have to actually do it. If I asked the husband to stay on top of it he'd make sure I made the time. But that would make me annoyed. Ah well.
Yesterday was one of the worst days in the history of parenting. Or at least it felt that way to me. One of my biological children has been complaining of sore throat and fever for a couple of days. Dutifully, I called the pediatrician who, of course, said bring her here so that I can get paid. (Maybe not those exact words) I bring ALL the children with us to the doctor's office and spend about 45 minutes "shushing" in the waiting area. We get back and see the pediatrician (who really IS wonderful) and he tells me her tonsils and surrounding lymph nodes are pretty swollen. He prescribes an antibiotic. Off to the pharmacy. Did I mention it's raining? So we get the meds and get back home.
I spend the rest of the afternoon putting people in time out and seriously considering driving through for supper... On Meatless Monday! I am ashamed. Then God gave me a lightbulb moment. Leftover Spanish rice and Ranch Style Beans. If you've never had them you won't miss them, but those little dudes sure are pretty good. This is what I feed all the children. The sick one wouldn't eat though. She lives solely off of Tylenol and throat drops. I was pretty proud of myself. When faced with the decision to either drive through for unhealthy food or try to whip up something at home, I chose the latter.
Last night, the sick one kept me up half the night crying. I finally got to sleep and the others woke up begging to be fed. I love my job, but the hours stink!
So right now the youngest children are napping while the elders are watching Inspector Gadget. (Who remembers that one?) Excuse me while I lie in the bed and think about how glorious it will be to work up a sweat in a mostly quiet gym. I will think these things from behind my eyelids. And then I shall do them eventually...
So, no sooner than those "I'm gonna do this" statements had left my mouth, yet another setback. A distraction...or seven. I started having trouble with IBS again. SEVERE trouble. Then, wham. Foster placement. Suddenly the number of children in my home doubled and I'm trying to parent from the bathroom. (Not effective I might add.)
It took some doing but I finally figured out what caused the tummy trouble. Do yourself a favor. When your health and well being is on the line, don't switch from one probiotic to another just because it's a good bit cheaper. There are reasons.
As far as being outnumbered by children? Well, so far it's okay. I spend most of my day supervising SOMEONE through a time out. Sometimes I wish I could put myself in time out. But wait. I can. AND find a way around my "I'm too busy to exercise" excuse. I'm thinking of taking a couple of days a week and going to the gym after supper. My hubby will be home to wrangle the animals, and I get a very much needed "time out". Now, I have to actually do it. If I asked the husband to stay on top of it he'd make sure I made the time. But that would make me annoyed. Ah well.
Yesterday was one of the worst days in the history of parenting. Or at least it felt that way to me. One of my biological children has been complaining of sore throat and fever for a couple of days. Dutifully, I called the pediatrician who, of course, said bring her here so that I can get paid. (Maybe not those exact words) I bring ALL the children with us to the doctor's office and spend about 45 minutes "shushing" in the waiting area. We get back and see the pediatrician (who really IS wonderful) and he tells me her tonsils and surrounding lymph nodes are pretty swollen. He prescribes an antibiotic. Off to the pharmacy. Did I mention it's raining? So we get the meds and get back home.
I spend the rest of the afternoon putting people in time out and seriously considering driving through for supper... On Meatless Monday! I am ashamed. Then God gave me a lightbulb moment. Leftover Spanish rice and Ranch Style Beans. If you've never had them you won't miss them, but those little dudes sure are pretty good. This is what I feed all the children. The sick one wouldn't eat though. She lives solely off of Tylenol and throat drops. I was pretty proud of myself. When faced with the decision to either drive through for unhealthy food or try to whip up something at home, I chose the latter.
Last night, the sick one kept me up half the night crying. I finally got to sleep and the others woke up begging to be fed. I love my job, but the hours stink!
So right now the youngest children are napping while the elders are watching Inspector Gadget. (Who remembers that one?) Excuse me while I lie in the bed and think about how glorious it will be to work up a sweat in a mostly quiet gym. I will think these things from behind my eyelids. And then I shall do them eventually...
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Beans...and Bellies
Meatless Monday was not really meatless last night. We had red beans, rice and sausage. Well...THEY had red beans, rice and sausage. My IBS has been super touchy lately so I've been eating easier to digest foods. I had one egg and some rice.
Sunday was one of the worst days I have had in a long time. I had a sick kid at church AND a "stomach bout". I told myself that I can't afford to be sick all the time when I have a house full of kids! So yesterday, I was extra careful about what I ate. No yummy red beans and sausage for me.
Still today I am sick yet again. And I don't know why. Maybe I should switch back to my old brand of probiotic. I have been using a less potent one because it's cheaper. This may not have been my best budget saving maneuver.
So hopefully I'll be well enough to enjoy the 4th, as well as the hubby's and my anniversary date coming up! It's miserable when you're afraid to eat. ...
Sunday was one of the worst days I have had in a long time. I had a sick kid at church AND a "stomach bout". I told myself that I can't afford to be sick all the time when I have a house full of kids! So yesterday, I was extra careful about what I ate. No yummy red beans and sausage for me.
Still today I am sick yet again. And I don't know why. Maybe I should switch back to my old brand of probiotic. I have been using a less potent one because it's cheaper. This may not have been my best budget saving maneuver.
So hopefully I'll be well enough to enjoy the 4th, as well as the hubby's and my anniversary date coming up! It's miserable when you're afraid to eat. ...
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