Anne Marie asked what I thought of the brines, which is cool because I completely forgot to update you guys on those.
The Apple Brine is a long time fav of ours. We first tried it about 5 years ago and have been hooked ever since. The key is to not use the full amount of sugar. Use no more than 1 cup of sugar. We also brined it for about 36 hours which I don't think was better or worse than the usual 24 hours. It sure made it fast to put in the oven in the morning. Just rinse, pat dry, and chuck that baby in.
The maple brine wasn't bad but no where near as good as the apple brine. Man thought that the maple was too strong, which is interesting what with all the other flavors competing in there. Though the drippings from this one made the best gravy I've ever had.
Peas and mushrooms were (in my opinion) very tastey.
We just used the basic recipe for cranberry sauce. (berries, sugar, water, dash of salt)
Rolls were our favs: Unknownchef86's Very Best Dinner Rolls. These are super easy, very forgiving, and fast to cook.
Stuffing was Stove Top, my fav kind of stuffing.
Steamed corn, with optional butter and salt.
And I think I already posted the mashed potato recipe.
The sweet potatoes were simple: microwave until soft, let rest until cool enough to handle. Peel, mash, put in casserole with enough brown sugar to sweeten to taste, top with marshmallows and brown the top briefly.
We're still eating the leftovers, 4 days later. :)
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thanksgiving
I think this is the first Thanksgiving that I've hosted for other people. It was nice to stay pretty relaxed with friends and not be too caught up in presentation.
We used the crockpot to keep the potatoes warm (thanks, Grandparents! It worked very nicely), and had as much done the day before as possible. As it was, I ended up in the kitchen for a good couple of hours and was very grateful for Man's sister's help. She made some awesome gravy and helped keep me grounded while all those plates were spinning. Tag spent most of the day playing with the neighbor's grandkids.
And yes, we had way too much turkey. We ended up with leftovers after carving up the little turkey, and the large turkey was untouched. Holy guacamole, but I think I'll be posting a few ways to use turkey. M told me about one that she likes:
Layer (crushed tortilla chips), (chopped turkey, salsa, cream of mushroom soup), and (cheese) twice, then bake until bubbley. And we definitely sent her home with enough leftovers to make that dish. I think we'll have to try it with some low fat soup, or just sub in some of that fat free cream cheese. Don't cringe -- it actually hides pretty well in casseroles.
The only major mishap we had was when some sweet child turned the roaster on high heat for a while. That turkey turned out a tad overdone but, since it was brined, was still juicy and tastey.
And now, on to Christmas.
I have most of my shopping all done, but nothing is wrapped and I have a couple of mystery people to shop for. You know, the people who appear to have everything. -sigh-
We used the crockpot to keep the potatoes warm (thanks, Grandparents! It worked very nicely), and had as much done the day before as possible. As it was, I ended up in the kitchen for a good couple of hours and was very grateful for Man's sister's help. She made some awesome gravy and helped keep me grounded while all those plates were spinning. Tag spent most of the day playing with the neighbor's grandkids.
And yes, we had way too much turkey. We ended up with leftovers after carving up the little turkey, and the large turkey was untouched. Holy guacamole, but I think I'll be posting a few ways to use turkey. M told me about one that she likes:
Layer (crushed tortilla chips), (chopped turkey, salsa, cream of mushroom soup), and (cheese) twice, then bake until bubbley. And we definitely sent her home with enough leftovers to make that dish. I think we'll have to try it with some low fat soup, or just sub in some of that fat free cream cheese. Don't cringe -- it actually hides pretty well in casseroles.
The only major mishap we had was when some sweet child turned the roaster on high heat for a while. That turkey turned out a tad overdone but, since it was brined, was still juicy and tastey.
And now, on to Christmas.
I have most of my shopping all done, but nothing is wrapped and I have a couple of mystery people to shop for. You know, the people who appear to have everything. -sigh-
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
You are what you eat
So I'm going to be one stuffed turkey soon.
It all started about a month and a half ago when Man asked if he could invite some people from work over for Thanksgiving. Now, the military is a lot like elementary school: if you bring an invitation to school, you should bring enough invitations for everyone. But, since rank and a couple of other factors force some level of segregation among soldiers, I was spared the entire class of 30 and their families.
Instead, we invited about 14 people over. That's a lot of people for us.
Fortunately, only 7 or so took Man up on the invite. That's a number I can live with for sure. Man's sister and her husband are also going to be coming. We started playing with ideas for how to feed that sort of crowd. Mashed potatoes and corn are cheap, but pie and and eggnog are not. Ham is more expensive than turkey, but two turkeys would be hard to cook.
We decided to just bite the bullet and make two turkeys, because I've seen soldiers eat. It isn't dirty or anything, just shocking quantities scamper down those eager gullets, and these soldiers all live in the barracks so they don't get home cooking. Ever.
The turkeys have been thawing in the fridge since this past Friday, because when you brine a large bird you have to start taking action about 156 hours before the fact. Today I made up two different brines (apple brine and maple brine -- I use a mere fraction of the sugar called for. it's much better that way) and I was busy giving the larger of the two birds (Herman) a bit of a bath in the sink to clean him up before his beauty sleep. Plunging my hand into his body cavity to search for stray ice, I managed to create a Death Juice Geyser that soaked my shirt and the head of the baby standing at my feet. Her glowing eyes crinkled as she grinned at my fun new game. She smiled and screamed "baaaah!!"
I used my stockpot for Herman and my very large pressure cooker for Hermione, putting them both in turkey sized oven bags before adding their spa treatment. I'm glad we got the large sized fridge.
I've already got the topping for the peach crisp waiting in the fridge ( with the addition of fresh ground nutmeg and a tiny dash of ginger), and the vanilla ice cream is standing by. Gravy, of course, will be drippings, flour, and fresh ground black pepper.
Sweet potatoes, steamed corn, peas and mushrooms, and mashed potatoes represent the veggie group, and homemade cranberry sauce is imperative for Man's turkey eating experience. Hot rolls will sort of fill in the corners and mop up plates.
Dessert is that peach crisp, brownies, and Paula Deen's pumpkin gingerbread trifle.
This is the original OAMC (once a month cooking) marathon cooking session.
A couple of days ago, after all the sweet potatoes had been purchased and the turkeys were already thawing, Man let me know that we'd only be having 3 of the guys over.
So, I guess we'll be having more leftovers than I thought. At least I won't have to buy groceries until the next time we move.
It all started about a month and a half ago when Man asked if he could invite some people from work over for Thanksgiving. Now, the military is a lot like elementary school: if you bring an invitation to school, you should bring enough invitations for everyone. But, since rank and a couple of other factors force some level of segregation among soldiers, I was spared the entire class of 30 and their families.
Instead, we invited about 14 people over. That's a lot of people for us.
Fortunately, only 7 or so took Man up on the invite. That's a number I can live with for sure. Man's sister and her husband are also going to be coming. We started playing with ideas for how to feed that sort of crowd. Mashed potatoes and corn are cheap, but pie and and eggnog are not. Ham is more expensive than turkey, but two turkeys would be hard to cook.
We decided to just bite the bullet and make two turkeys, because I've seen soldiers eat. It isn't dirty or anything, just shocking quantities scamper down those eager gullets, and these soldiers all live in the barracks so they don't get home cooking. Ever.
The turkeys have been thawing in the fridge since this past Friday, because when you brine a large bird you have to start taking action about 156 hours before the fact. Today I made up two different brines (apple brine and maple brine -- I use a mere fraction of the sugar called for. it's much better that way) and I was busy giving the larger of the two birds (Herman) a bit of a bath in the sink to clean him up before his beauty sleep. Plunging my hand into his body cavity to search for stray ice, I managed to create a Death Juice Geyser that soaked my shirt and the head of the baby standing at my feet. Her glowing eyes crinkled as she grinned at my fun new game. She smiled and screamed "baaaah!!"
I used my stockpot for Herman and my very large pressure cooker for Hermione, putting them both in turkey sized oven bags before adding their spa treatment. I'm glad we got the large sized fridge.
I've already got the topping for the peach crisp waiting in the fridge ( with the addition of fresh ground nutmeg and a tiny dash of ginger), and the vanilla ice cream is standing by. Gravy, of course, will be drippings, flour, and fresh ground black pepper.
Sweet potatoes, steamed corn, peas and mushrooms, and mashed potatoes represent the veggie group, and homemade cranberry sauce is imperative for Man's turkey eating experience. Hot rolls will sort of fill in the corners and mop up plates.
Dessert is that peach crisp, brownies, and Paula Deen's pumpkin gingerbread trifle.
This is the original OAMC (once a month cooking) marathon cooking session.
A couple of days ago, after all the sweet potatoes had been purchased and the turkeys were already thawing, Man let me know that we'd only be having 3 of the guys over.
So, I guess we'll be having more leftovers than I thought. At least I won't have to buy groceries until the next time we move.
Monday, November 24, 2008
The kids ate my Christmas gift
As a child, it's easy to think of things to blame for falling short on assignments. I know that Christmas gifts are neither mandatory nor do they have to be extravagant. I like to give them as far as my budget is able. In fact, I like to make things for people quite a bit but am so self-critical that I will often make a few things that never end up under the tree. I have no dog to blame, no pets of any kind, and if I have time to type these posts I certainly have time to knit a few more rows, let alone time to fold the two baskets of laundry in my bedroom.
This year, I decided to make a couple of cute things for a couple of cute sisters, but wasn't happy with how one of them turned out. It was a scarf and the stripes I wanted for it would be most easily accomplished by knitting it sideways, along the length of the item. That always makes me nervous because I like looooooong scarves and knitting it sideways meant that the length would be fixed, for better or for worse, unless I got tricky and brave with a crochet hook.
Well, it did turn out too short for my taste. I ended up leaving the poor thing on the back of the couch, where my kids found it. It made the most marvelous draw bridge, stretchy arm, whip, rope, and harness they'd ever used, the end result being my sad little scarf being left for dead in a withered pile in a dark corner of our crooked hallway, to be discovered only after that magic moment revered through all time, known merely as "bed time." Of course, once everyone is all tucked in, you can't go thumping around chastising them for ruining all my hard work.
I stared at it, examining the broken strings on one side that were already unraveling a large portion of the edge, where jewel-pink ribbon yarn hung limp and lost and frayed.
I smiled slightly, torn between outrage because knitting does take time, and relief that I could go get more yummy yarn to make what I really wanted.
teehee
Readers, how long do you like your scarves? See the poll on the right side of this page.
This year, I decided to make a couple of cute things for a couple of cute sisters, but wasn't happy with how one of them turned out. It was a scarf and the stripes I wanted for it would be most easily accomplished by knitting it sideways, along the length of the item. That always makes me nervous because I like looooooong scarves and knitting it sideways meant that the length would be fixed, for better or for worse, unless I got tricky and brave with a crochet hook.
Well, it did turn out too short for my taste. I ended up leaving the poor thing on the back of the couch, where my kids found it. It made the most marvelous draw bridge, stretchy arm, whip, rope, and harness they'd ever used, the end result being my sad little scarf being left for dead in a withered pile in a dark corner of our crooked hallway, to be discovered only after that magic moment revered through all time, known merely as "bed time." Of course, once everyone is all tucked in, you can't go thumping around chastising them for ruining all my hard work.
I stared at it, examining the broken strings on one side that were already unraveling a large portion of the edge, where jewel-pink ribbon yarn hung limp and lost and frayed.
I smiled slightly, torn between outrage because knitting does take time, and relief that I could go get more yummy yarn to make what I really wanted.
teehee
Readers, how long do you like your scarves? See the poll on the right side of this page.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Relief
3 days after his surgery, his shoulder feels better at rest than it did before the surgery.
YAY!!!!!!!!!
-fingers crossed, knock on wood, praying, praying, praying-
YAY!!!!!!!!!
-fingers crossed, knock on wood, praying, praying, praying-
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Waking up
This morning, Man tried to let me sleep in. It was really a courageous thing for him to attempt. But, sadly, Princess came in to let me know that she had accidentally peed her bed. She drank a lot yesterday (highly uncharacteristic of her) and neglected to use the bathroom last night. Fortunately, it was a small enough mess that I could tell her to take her own sheets off the bed. Thank goodness for plastic sheets which have been in place since our last flu episode.
A few minutes later, Man came to inform me that Frieda had not only thrown up all over her crib, she also needed a diaper change and he couldn't do it with one hand. He's been trying to help with things all day -- putting dishes away, flipping French toast, keeping the sad, grumpy baby occupied, but the results of often comedic. Poor guy. He really is trying.
Anyway, Pebbles wanted some breakfast and I realized that, since I cleaned up Freida and put Princess' bedclothes in the washer, gotten kisses from the kids, dried some tears, and had baby snot smeared on my shirt, all I needed to complete my collection of common bodily fluids was blood. Haha. Ha.
No one has bled yet today. And I'm SOOOOO grateful that Tag made it to the toilet before he lost everything he put in his stomach at his friend's birthday party last night. Between the two sick kids and post-op hubby, no one is going to church tomorrow.
Thank goodness they managed to be sick during their Thanksgiving break, rather than, you know, during a time when I could send at least one person to school.
A few minutes later, Man came to inform me that Frieda had not only thrown up all over her crib, she also needed a diaper change and he couldn't do it with one hand. He's been trying to help with things all day -- putting dishes away, flipping French toast, keeping the sad, grumpy baby occupied, but the results of often comedic. Poor guy. He really is trying.
Anyway, Pebbles wanted some breakfast and I realized that, since I cleaned up Freida and put Princess' bedclothes in the washer, gotten kisses from the kids, dried some tears, and had baby snot smeared on my shirt, all I needed to complete my collection of common bodily fluids was blood. Haha. Ha.
No one has bled yet today. And I'm SOOOOO grateful that Tag made it to the toilet before he lost everything he put in his stomach at his friend's birthday party last night. Between the two sick kids and post-op hubby, no one is going to church tomorrow.
Thank goodness they managed to be sick during their Thanksgiving break, rather than, you know, during a time when I could send at least one person to school.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Final version
I'm using a free file share program for file hosting, so if you try to download any of this and it doesn't work, that means I've used all my bandwidth for the month. As of today, I have 3 weeks until it resets, so try again around Christmas. :)
This version of my outline isn't a whole lot different, but it's my final version. I wanted to do more but, meh.
File
I have dozens more recipes I wish I had posted. Here are three weeks of my own menus:
Week one. (file download)
Week two. (file download)
Week three. (file download)
And I'm working on more, especially since I havn't found a source for a couple of ingredients in these menus (like my fav hoisin sauce)
Here is a link to K-State's Month of Menus. (warning, it's a PDF)
Here's a link to a table called Creative Casseroles. (PDF)
A formula for healthy, satisfying snacks. (PDF)
Here's a MyPyramid sample menu. (PDF)
Here is also a template I used a long time ago to help spring board my menu planning. There are a ton of short cuts that can be used to facilitate the use of this template. I can elaborate later when I think of it (which means, a year from now) or sooner if there's interest.
General Rotation. (this is an excel file)
This version of my outline isn't a whole lot different, but it's my final version. I wanted to do more but, meh.
File
I have dozens more recipes I wish I had posted. Here are three weeks of my own menus:
Week one. (file download)
Week two. (file download)
Week three. (file download)
And I'm working on more, especially since I havn't found a source for a couple of ingredients in these menus (like my fav hoisin sauce)
Here is a link to K-State's Month of Menus. (warning, it's a PDF)
Here's a link to a table called Creative Casseroles. (PDF)
A formula for healthy, satisfying snacks. (PDF)
Here's a MyPyramid sample menu. (PDF)
Here is also a template I used a long time ago to help spring board my menu planning. There are a ton of short cuts that can be used to facilitate the use of this template. I can elaborate later when I think of it (which means, a year from now) or sooner if there's interest.
General Rotation. (this is an excel file)
Surgery
With all said and done (maybe not all said, I guess) we're calling the surgery a tentative success.
Findings: two bone spurs (rather than just the one we knew about), tendonosis which was relieved by very slightly reducing the bone to give the tendon some more wiggle room, and a frayed rotator cuff. There was another area of pain on the posterior part of his shoulder where the surgeon did some spelunking but couldn't find anything wrong at all, which has us a bit bummed. Mostly, we're just grateful that it's over with and we're looking forward to some reduced pain.
Man had a very difficult time coming out of the anesthesia and made a really cute drugged guy. He didn't say much except "sorry for not waking up quickly" and "thank you for your patience" over and over again. Other than that he stayed pretty quiet and would just randomly snore about every 2-3 mins. He managed a smile when I called him my little narcolept. He's in a lot of pain but we're making sure to give him meds on a timely basis, he's on some heavy duty anti-inflammatories, and we have some sacrificial bags of peas to keep that thing iced. He still has his original dressings on (they come off today) and it makes him look a bit like Quasimodo. He's learning how and how not to hold his arm, and he's in a sling part of the time.
This week has been a bit surreal for me. All four kids have been sick for a week or two now (with an entire spectrum of symptoms, so I'm sure that they've had a variety of illnesses), but Man's cough has been keeping me up at night. Combine that with preparing that meal planning class some more, keeping the house up and all that entails, and Frieda depeloping flu-like symptoms the day after surgery, and I'm SOOOO grateful for the following:
1. Fast food. It's what we ate for dinner the day of the surgery. From wake up that morning at a little after 6, until we all piled into the house at 7:30 that night, it was full throttle.
2. Pain meds. How bad would he feel without them?
3. Heat. It's been cold lately and I'm glad to have sick kids in a warm house.
4. That the kids all semi-willingly went to bed early enough last night that I could leave them all at the house while I taught and man convalesced. After Enrichment we all gather around some gooey sugar cookies and chatted for at least another hour and it was balm to my soul.
5. God. And family. And friends. Everyone who loves us and has prayed for us and reached out and been aware. We're doing alright in most respects and appreciate the moral support. I've been praying that I won't get sick since we're hosting Thanksgiving next weekend for some soldiers and we're looking forward to providing an environment of some refuge.
Anyway, we have grocery shopping done for at least the next 2-3 weeks, including Thanksgiving and all its leftovers. Other than that we just plan on holing up until Christmas with a couple of brief interludes of school and work.
And I'm not sure how to end this naturally. So, the end.
Findings: two bone spurs (rather than just the one we knew about), tendonosis which was relieved by very slightly reducing the bone to give the tendon some more wiggle room, and a frayed rotator cuff. There was another area of pain on the posterior part of his shoulder where the surgeon did some spelunking but couldn't find anything wrong at all, which has us a bit bummed. Mostly, we're just grateful that it's over with and we're looking forward to some reduced pain.
Man had a very difficult time coming out of the anesthesia and made a really cute drugged guy. He didn't say much except "sorry for not waking up quickly" and "thank you for your patience" over and over again. Other than that he stayed pretty quiet and would just randomly snore about every 2-3 mins. He managed a smile when I called him my little narcolept. He's in a lot of pain but we're making sure to give him meds on a timely basis, he's on some heavy duty anti-inflammatories, and we have some sacrificial bags of peas to keep that thing iced. He still has his original dressings on (they come off today) and it makes him look a bit like Quasimodo. He's learning how and how not to hold his arm, and he's in a sling part of the time.
This week has been a bit surreal for me. All four kids have been sick for a week or two now (with an entire spectrum of symptoms, so I'm sure that they've had a variety of illnesses), but Man's cough has been keeping me up at night. Combine that with preparing that meal planning class some more, keeping the house up and all that entails, and Frieda depeloping flu-like symptoms the day after surgery, and I'm SOOOO grateful for the following:
1. Fast food. It's what we ate for dinner the day of the surgery. From wake up that morning at a little after 6, until we all piled into the house at 7:30 that night, it was full throttle.
2. Pain meds. How bad would he feel without them?
3. Heat. It's been cold lately and I'm glad to have sick kids in a warm house.
4. That the kids all semi-willingly went to bed early enough last night that I could leave them all at the house while I taught and man convalesced. After Enrichment we all gather around some gooey sugar cookies and chatted for at least another hour and it was balm to my soul.
5. God. And family. And friends. Everyone who loves us and has prayed for us and reached out and been aware. We're doing alright in most respects and appreciate the moral support. I've been praying that I won't get sick since we're hosting Thanksgiving next weekend for some soldiers and we're looking forward to providing an environment of some refuge.
Anyway, we have grocery shopping done for at least the next 2-3 weeks, including Thanksgiving and all its leftovers. Other than that we just plan on holing up until Christmas with a couple of brief interludes of school and work.
And I'm not sure how to end this naturally. So, the end.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Woohoo! Go away, salesperson!
A young punk came to my door.
YP: Hey, I'm doing this thing about points and free speech where I can earn a scholarship. Have you been to college?
A: Nope.
YP: Does your work have you involved with a lot of people? Do you meet a lot of people?
A: I do a lot of volunteer work, so it's very much people based. So, yes. Are you selling something?
YP: Nope, I'm looking at earning points. I'm going to be a pediatrician with a Spanish minor, so a bi-lingual pediatrician.
A: Good for you.
YP: In the mean time, I'm learning about people skills. Do you have any advice to give me for people skills?
A: Yes. When you first meet someone, let them do 80% of the talking. Believe it or not, they remember you better that way.
YP: Wow, that's some great advice. This is how I earn points. [pulls out laminated sheets with hundreds of names of magazines and books] These are some common books and things that kids read [one of the ones I caught was ESPN].
A: Ah, so you are selling something.
YP: No, no, I'm just trying to earn points.
[I handed his sheets back after a mere glance]
YP: Did you see anything there?
A: Nope.
YP: Well, thanks for supporting education. Have a nice day.
Now, what I wanted to call after him was "guilt trips are not a good people skill, you whipper-snapper, and stay off my lawn."
But I held my peace, glad that I didn't give any ground and didn't entertain him longer than necessary. I used to be one of those people who'd listen to the entire program, watch the whole demonstration, and waver between buying or not.
Well, not no more!
YP: Hey, I'm doing this thing about points and free speech where I can earn a scholarship. Have you been to college?
A: Nope.
YP: Does your work have you involved with a lot of people? Do you meet a lot of people?
A: I do a lot of volunteer work, so it's very much people based. So, yes. Are you selling something?
YP: Nope, I'm looking at earning points. I'm going to be a pediatrician with a Spanish minor, so a bi-lingual pediatrician.
A: Good for you.
YP: In the mean time, I'm learning about people skills. Do you have any advice to give me for people skills?
A: Yes. When you first meet someone, let them do 80% of the talking. Believe it or not, they remember you better that way.
YP: Wow, that's some great advice. This is how I earn points. [pulls out laminated sheets with hundreds of names of magazines and books] These are some common books and things that kids read [one of the ones I caught was ESPN].
A: Ah, so you are selling something.
YP: No, no, I'm just trying to earn points.
[I handed his sheets back after a mere glance]
YP: Did you see anything there?
A: Nope.
YP: Well, thanks for supporting education. Have a nice day.
Now, what I wanted to call after him was "guilt trips are not a good people skill, you whipper-snapper, and stay off my lawn."
But I held my peace, glad that I didn't give any ground and didn't entertain him longer than necessary. I used to be one of those people who'd listen to the entire program, watch the whole demonstration, and waver between buying or not.
Well, not no more!
This little girl of mine is in the "must change my clothes every half hour" phase. It makes for a lot of laundry since she usually manages to get her clothing dirty each time. Anyway, I told her to go put some clothes on the other day and this is what she came up with:
It's her own shirt, a diaper (we're working on it), some of her own under pants, and two pairs of her sister's underpants as well. The crocs are Tag's.
It's her own shirt, a diaper (we're working on it), some of her own under pants, and two pairs of her sister's underpants as well. The crocs are Tag's.Monday, November 17, 2008
Dropping kids off
I dropped the kids off today. Of course. (Napoleon Dynamite moment: Duh! What d'you think?)
Anyway, Pebbles picked up a little chant from the movie Alvin and the Chipmunks from when Alvin does his little sexy dance ("bow chicka wow wow") and turned it into "ah chickee dah dah" and a little booty dance of her own. She does it to tease the older kids who yell "ew!!" and run away to complain about her indecency.
This morning she was absently chanting it in the van, likely trying to mentally escape how miserably cold it was this morning (it's only 35° -- they ain't seen nothing yet) and of course take a parting shot at her uber-sensitive sibs. We finally decided to correct her though. It was so strange to hear her little voice say "chicka wow wow?" and I confirmed a few times with the kids that it was from the Chipmunk movie and no other source. -sigh- Some day they'll have to know what this iconic reference means.
Tag and Princess each gave me a kiss (something I never discourage and hope it lasts a while longer) and then Tag called out "I love you! I hope y'all have a good day!"
Y'all? Y'all?? Oh, dear. We can't move soon enough.
Man's surgery is this Wednesday. We're not sure what time yet as they will be calling us tomorrow with the nitty-gritty, like whether I'm supposed to stay at the hospital and wait or if I can go do business and usual until they give me a call. But this is it folks. This is the one and only surgery he'll be getting, this is his last orthopedic surgeon, his last chance to have a real difference made for his shoulder. The results of this procedure will influence so many things for us, both in his career as well as almost every aspect of home life. The pain is really wearing on him and the rest of us as well. We've been hearing some really great things about his surgeon from people at church who are also part of the medical community.
So, any prayers you have, any good thoughts or good vibes, think about Man on Wednesday. He has had a blessing and we know that God will somehow provide a way for us to take care of ourselves, but we'd really rather do it without Man hurting.
If things go well: we stay in the military, Man completes his training, completes his contract, and then we decide whether to reenlist or get out and try our hand at the real world again, but with a very marketable skill.
If things go poorly: he gets med-boarded out of the military before his training is complete, and he ends up jobless and 80% disabled, not to mention that "pain for the rest of your life" part. I would go get my nursing degree (nurse practitioner if I have the stamina and funding) and become the bread winner, but with a house-husband too injured to even carry a laundry basket.
Of course, even if things go well I'd want to get my degree. I'm already looking into schools at our next station.
Wow, that got long.
Anyway, Pebbles picked up a little chant from the movie Alvin and the Chipmunks from when Alvin does his little sexy dance ("bow chicka wow wow") and turned it into "ah chickee dah dah" and a little booty dance of her own. She does it to tease the older kids who yell "ew!!" and run away to complain about her indecency.
This morning she was absently chanting it in the van, likely trying to mentally escape how miserably cold it was this morning (it's only 35° -- they ain't seen nothing yet) and of course take a parting shot at her uber-sensitive sibs. We finally decided to correct her though. It was so strange to hear her little voice say "chicka wow wow?" and I confirmed a few times with the kids that it was from the Chipmunk movie and no other source. -sigh- Some day they'll have to know what this iconic reference means.
Tag and Princess each gave me a kiss (something I never discourage and hope it lasts a while longer) and then Tag called out "I love you! I hope y'all have a good day!"
Y'all? Y'all?? Oh, dear. We can't move soon enough.
Man's surgery is this Wednesday. We're not sure what time yet as they will be calling us tomorrow with the nitty-gritty, like whether I'm supposed to stay at the hospital and wait or if I can go do business and usual until they give me a call. But this is it folks. This is the one and only surgery he'll be getting, this is his last orthopedic surgeon, his last chance to have a real difference made for his shoulder. The results of this procedure will influence so many things for us, both in his career as well as almost every aspect of home life. The pain is really wearing on him and the rest of us as well. We've been hearing some really great things about his surgeon from people at church who are also part of the medical community.
So, any prayers you have, any good thoughts or good vibes, think about Man on Wednesday. He has had a blessing and we know that God will somehow provide a way for us to take care of ourselves, but we'd really rather do it without Man hurting.
If things go well: we stay in the military, Man completes his training, completes his contract, and then we decide whether to reenlist or get out and try our hand at the real world again, but with a very marketable skill.
If things go poorly: he gets med-boarded out of the military before his training is complete, and he ends up jobless and 80% disabled, not to mention that "pain for the rest of your life" part. I would go get my nursing degree (nurse practitioner if I have the stamina and funding) and become the bread winner, but with a house-husband too injured to even carry a laundry basket.
Of course, even if things go well I'd want to get my degree. I'm already looking into schools at our next station.
Wow, that got long.
Friday, November 14, 2008
You put the lime in the coconut
This kid. This kid right here. She and Pebbles love the weirdest foods. Pebbles eats lemon wedges, every kind of cheese we offer her, and any fruit whatsoever. She eats almost anything.
Freida has begun to eat just about anything as well. Out of all four of them, she's the most frustrating about stuff she puts in her mouth. Just yesterday I had to do the baby Heimlich on her to get an acorn out of her mouth that Tag left on his dresser, which Pebbles then found, played with, and left on the floor. The only thing to do is vacuum twice a day and just keep an eye on her.
-sigh-
I've said it before and I guarantee I'll say it again: it's a darn good thing she's so cute.
And, by the way, she walked across the living room yesterday for the first time. It won't be long now.
Freida has begun to eat just about anything as well. Out of all four of them, she's the most frustrating about stuff she puts in her mouth. Just yesterday I had to do the baby Heimlich on her to get an acorn out of her mouth that Tag left on his dresser, which Pebbles then found, played with, and left on the floor. The only thing to do is vacuum twice a day and just keep an eye on her.
-sigh-
I've said it before and I guarantee I'll say it again: it's a darn good thing she's so cute.
And, by the way, she walked across the living room yesterday for the first time. It won't be long now.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Pictures
Here are some catch up pictures.
All the kids have been sick lately, especially this little one. She's been having a cough and conjunctivitis.
Peeking out of her blanket. This cute girl just grew into a woman's shoe size 6. That's right, folks, she only has 5 more sizes to catch up with her old mum.
She was trying to pose for the picture and watch the movie at the same time.
Ah, that's better.
"Hey, lemme take your picture." "Do I have to?"
It's a 15 minute class, so of course I need this many books and binders of information...
I also need some visual aids representing my various menu planning strategies.
This was my most successful attempt at menu planning:
An example of the note card system. It has a grocery list and recipe notes on the back, complete with side dish suggestions.
Since it's an Enrichment night class, I had to make one of the note cards using funny shaped scissors, funky scrap book paper, and a glue stick. It's a law. Ignore the big hair on the card that I couldn't see but my camera evidently did.
All the kids have been sick lately, especially this little one. She's been having a cough and conjunctivitis.
Peeking out of her blanket. This cute girl just grew into a woman's shoe size 6. That's right, folks, she only has 5 more sizes to catch up with her old mum.
She was trying to pose for the picture and watch the movie at the same time.
Ah, that's better.
"Hey, lemme take your picture." "Do I have to?"
It's a 15 minute class, so of course I need this many books and binders of information...
I also need some visual aids representing my various menu planning strategies.
This was my most successful attempt at menu planning:
An example of the note card system. It has a grocery list and recipe notes on the back, complete with side dish suggestions.
Since it's an Enrichment night class, I had to make one of the note cards using funny shaped scissors, funky scrap book paper, and a glue stick. It's a law. Ignore the big hair on the card that I couldn't see but my camera evidently did.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
THERE IS NO EXCUSE!!!
Not that there ever was one...
Back to menu planning.
A nice lady in the ward has asked me to teach a class on menu planning. I laughed, and laughed some more, then I got ahold of myself and just laughed on the inside for a while.
It's called irony, dear readers.
So, anyway, like I always do when I get to teach a class, I've researched the heck out of it. Here is what I have so far:
Meal Planning Class.docx
This is the incomplete version. I have yet to flesh out all of the subpoints and I have a ton of recipes I want to add in there.
Anyway, while wandering around the web, I found this stunning website. Now, THERE IS NO EXCUSE for me to not have a meal plan. None, whatsoever. As if I was able to justify an excuse before.
BTW, the class is only supposed to be 15 mins long. Think it'll work? I'll have to talk fast and not take questions.
I also need to trim my stack of about 15 handouts and offer to email the linked doc above, since I'm sure the relief society doesn't want me to copy 30 pages per person in attendance.
Back to menu planning.
A nice lady in the ward has asked me to teach a class on menu planning. I laughed, and laughed some more, then I got ahold of myself and just laughed on the inside for a while.
It's called irony, dear readers.
So, anyway, like I always do when I get to teach a class, I've researched the heck out of it. Here is what I have so far:
Meal Planning Class.docx
This is the incomplete version. I have yet to flesh out all of the subpoints and I have a ton of recipes I want to add in there.
Anyway, while wandering around the web, I found this stunning website. Now, THERE IS NO EXCUSE for me to not have a meal plan. None, whatsoever. As if I was able to justify an excuse before.
BTW, the class is only supposed to be 15 mins long. Think it'll work? I'll have to talk fast and not take questions.
I also need to trim my stack of about 15 handouts and offer to email the linked doc above, since I'm sure the relief society doesn't want me to copy 30 pages per person in attendance.
Salt
Last night I made homemade pizza but, for the first time in quite a while, forgot to put the salt in the dough. What can I say? I had four little people stepping on my feet, asking when dinner would be ready.
Man approached me later, after eating, and asked if I was trying to get us to eat less salt as a family. I turned from him, determined to not give such a question the time of day.
I wasn't quite sure what bothered me about it, but I returned to him later to voice my conclusion:
I'd rather be thought of as incompetent than conniving.
After all, why would I leave the salt out of the dough then put Prego spaghetti sauce, cheese, and pepperoni on it? That's like those weirdos who get a Supersize McDonald's coronary in a bag along with a 32 ounce diet Coke.
Maybe some day when I goof on dinner, he won't think I have some sort of secret agenda to make him healthier. I can only imagine what he thinks actually happens in the kitchen.
There I stand, over my cauldron, in a black apron and my book of herbal witchcraft, cackling gleefully as I put BRAN into his muffins and BEAN SPROUTS in his green salads and OLIVE OIL instead of butter in my sautee pan and SPINACH in our lasagna, among other dastardly unmentionables in a secret plan to make him healthier, MWAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!! Soon, he'll have more energy with which to complain that my cooking doesn't taste like it used to, he'll have stronger bones with which to beat his chest in the agony of healthy meals, and his mind will be sharp enough to argue concinvingly in favor of transfat, refined sugar, and bleached flour.
NO, I did NOT leave the salt out on purpose.
-sigh-
Check out this awesome website though, where this lady teaches people to use shelf-stable ingredients to make some really great recipes.
Man approached me later, after eating, and asked if I was trying to get us to eat less salt as a family. I turned from him, determined to not give such a question the time of day.
I wasn't quite sure what bothered me about it, but I returned to him later to voice my conclusion:
I'd rather be thought of as incompetent than conniving.
After all, why would I leave the salt out of the dough then put Prego spaghetti sauce, cheese, and pepperoni on it? That's like those weirdos who get a Supersize McDonald's coronary in a bag along with a 32 ounce diet Coke.
Maybe some day when I goof on dinner, he won't think I have some sort of secret agenda to make him healthier. I can only imagine what he thinks actually happens in the kitchen.
There I stand, over my cauldron, in a black apron and my book of herbal witchcraft, cackling gleefully as I put BRAN into his muffins and BEAN SPROUTS in his green salads and OLIVE OIL instead of butter in my sautee pan and SPINACH in our lasagna, among other dastardly unmentionables in a secret plan to make him healthier, MWAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!! Soon, he'll have more energy with which to complain that my cooking doesn't taste like it used to, he'll have stronger bones with which to beat his chest in the agony of healthy meals, and his mind will be sharp enough to argue concinvingly in favor of transfat, refined sugar, and bleached flour.
NO, I did NOT leave the salt out on purpose.
-sigh-
Check out this awesome website though, where this lady teaches people to use shelf-stable ingredients to make some really great recipes.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Someone else's baby
I went to a baby shower tonight for a friend who I met in California. Our paths have crossed again and are about to uncross, as they once more move on before we do. She recently gave birth to her second child, a mere 14 months following the grand entrance (or exit) of her first.
This tiny baby was just perfect. Her skin had a slightly ruddy newborn cast to it, her mouth was delightfully puckered in unconscious nursing motions, and her fingers were delicately spindly and gorgeous. At 9 days old, she still weighs slightly under 8 pounds and appears to be the size of a scrawny cantaloupe.
I got to hold her for several minutes at the party while every other lady in the room laughed about their messy, hilarious, life-altering deliveries. I held her cradled and then tried her in my favorite newborn position: curled in a lump on my chest, right above my heart. Newborns fit just so perfectly into hands and arms and on chests.
I savored her velvet skin and her newborn smell, the fluttering movements of her skinny limbs governed by a very immature nervous system, and the yawns that seemed that they would allow me to peer straight into her wee lungs. She was warm, soft, and absolutely beautiful.
And then it was time to go. I handed her back and was briefly overwhelmed by relief that I got to enjoy that sweet little creature, and yet I get to sleep aaaaaaall night tonight with no guilt. I smiled. I felt sympathy for this poor woman who would have to get up every 2 hours to feed her slightly jaundiced baby, deal with painfully engorged mammaries, and somehow care for her two kids who are all but Irish twins.
I've done my time. I've lost enough sleep. Tonight just confirmed all over again how grateful I am to never again be pregnant. I'm going to snuggle into my nice, heavy blankets and snooze the snore of the well-contented mother who has moved beyond one phase of her children's young lives.
I'm sure I'll once again lose sleep once they start driving and going to parties. But that's an entirely different blog post.
This tiny baby was just perfect. Her skin had a slightly ruddy newborn cast to it, her mouth was delightfully puckered in unconscious nursing motions, and her fingers were delicately spindly and gorgeous. At 9 days old, she still weighs slightly under 8 pounds and appears to be the size of a scrawny cantaloupe.
I got to hold her for several minutes at the party while every other lady in the room laughed about their messy, hilarious, life-altering deliveries. I held her cradled and then tried her in my favorite newborn position: curled in a lump on my chest, right above my heart. Newborns fit just so perfectly into hands and arms and on chests.
I savored her velvet skin and her newborn smell, the fluttering movements of her skinny limbs governed by a very immature nervous system, and the yawns that seemed that they would allow me to peer straight into her wee lungs. She was warm, soft, and absolutely beautiful.
And then it was time to go. I handed her back and was briefly overwhelmed by relief that I got to enjoy that sweet little creature, and yet I get to sleep aaaaaaall night tonight with no guilt. I smiled. I felt sympathy for this poor woman who would have to get up every 2 hours to feed her slightly jaundiced baby, deal with painfully engorged mammaries, and somehow care for her two kids who are all but Irish twins.
I've done my time. I've lost enough sleep. Tonight just confirmed all over again how grateful I am to never again be pregnant. I'm going to snuggle into my nice, heavy blankets and snooze the snore of the well-contented mother who has moved beyond one phase of her children's young lives.
I'm sure I'll once again lose sleep once they start driving and going to parties. But that's an entirely different blog post.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Comfort Food
It has finally been cold enough for a few days that we've been able to make soup and biscuits for dinner. We had some friends over for a roast chicken meal (baked acorn squash with brown sugar and butter, stuffing, mashed taters (what'ssss taterss, preciousss? every time), steamed carrots, and the chicken was moist inside, crispy outside = tres yum) and thus had two little chicken carcasses with which to make some delightful chicken soup. I love whole chickens and the two meals I get from just one small bird. Around here, they can be had for about $3.50 each. Here is the spread of recipes:
Roast chicken
1 whole chicken
1/4 cup of sea salt
1 T ground black pepper
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tsp poultry seasoning
2 T softened butter
Take your thawed or fresh chicken and rub that sucker with butter. Get your hand between the skin and meat and rub butter there, too. This makes the skin crispy. Sprinkle with all the spices, saving the salt for last. Make sure the salt gets all over the whole bird. You can put aromatics in the cavity if you like. (onion, celery, carrots, crushed cloves of garlic) Cover with foil, bake in 350° oven for about 30 mins or until a thermometer reads 160° in the breast. Take the foil off and let the skin crisp up in the dry heat until desired color is reached. Don't be shy.
Acorn squash
I like to get these done fast. I also have only one rack in my oven, so this method is my ideal solution.
2 medium acorn squashes (squashi? squash?)
1/2 cup brown sugar
4 teaspoons butter
Split the squashes in half and remove seeds. Clean your microwave plate very well. Put the squash, cut side down, on the plate and nuke for at least 5 mins or until soft. Turn over, put into a pie plate or whatever will hold them (I put them on the rack of my toaster oven), and sprinkle with brown sugar and add a pat of butter. Bake at 350°, basting occasionally with the gooey liquid in the middle until you have nicely browned squash. You can slice these pieces in half and just serve in their shells (my favorite, no hassle method) or allow them to cool slightly and scoop the flesh into a serving bowl (the kids' favorite no hassle method). Add salt if desired.
Mashed potatoes
I was a bit leery of making mashed taters with skins, but these turned out great. The secret is to have a friend who can really scrub potatoes, or use thin-skinned yukon golds. (scrub those, too)
1 large potato or two small potatoes per person, scrubbed and nasty parts cut out
1/4 cup butter (at least)
1/2 cup sour cream (at least)
2 teaspoons chicken bullion granules
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
Cut the potatoes into large chunks and boil until soft. Drain thoroughly and allow to cool/dry for just a minute before dumping into mixing bowl. Add all of your add-ins before mixing, sprinkling evenly over the top so you don't have to mix too much. Begin mixing on medium-low, using your spatula to encourage larger chunks through the blades. Mix until lumps are mostly gone, but not until potatoes get slimy. Some people call slimy mashed potatoes creamy. They are wrong. Creamy mashed potatoes should still have a somewhat starchy texture and shouldn't ooze on your plate when you plop a pile of fluffy potato goodness in a place of honor next to the chicken. Correct spices early on so you don't have to over-beat.
The carrots were just steamed in my rice cooker steaming basket and tossed with butter and salt. Stuffing was from a box and made according to the directions. I also like to steam whole kernel corn and eat that with my mashed taters.
What to do with a carcass:
Remove as much meat as possible. Dice up meat and set it aside in the fridge.
Place the remaining carcass, including the wings, tail, neck, and any drippings you might have accidentally left in the pan from gravy making (heck, you can even add left over gravy) into a pot large enough to hold your bird, a couple of quarts of water (or enough water to cover) and a few extras.
Extras:
An onion, peeled and rough chopped.
Any carrots you might have, even those slightly old, dry-looking ones.
Celery, especially the hearts and any leaves you're not going to use for the soup.
More cloves of garlic, smashed.
A few cardamom pods, crushed.
1 T pepper corns.
3-4 bay leaves
Put the heat up to high until it's simmering. Reduce the heat to low or med-low and simmer. If you boil this, the flavor will be off. Just simmer for at least an hour, but the longer the better, up until about 6 hours.
IMPORTANT: I've heard of people making their broth and then putting their strainers in the sink and dumping their precious soup stock down the drain while retaining the ugly, sorry-looking pile of trash that made it. DON'T do this. Put a bowl on your counter (one large enough that the drainer can nest inside), put your drainer in that, and then dump. Don't worry if your "other stuff" is still sitting in the broth at this point. Simple lift the drainer and place it on a plate with a lip. Let this cool while you work with the rest of the soup. If desired, run the broth through another fine sieve just in case your big one isn't thorough enough. This will keep any rogue pepper corns or cardamom seeds out of your soup.
1 large onion
3 large carrots, scrubbed, or three handsful of baby carrots
Celery, if you have any, washed
MORE garlic (mwa-hahahaha)
fresh ground pepper to taste
1/4 cup of long grain rice (or brown rice, yum)
any other veggies you want to add. I like to put at least one green thing in, as well as some chopped cabbage.
Chop the onion up and add to a sautee pan with butter. Grind some pepper over it and sautee until it begins to turn color. Add chopped or small-diced carrots and brown those up a bit, too. Deglaze the pan and put all that into your broth. Add the rice. Honest, it gets huge, so don't go over-adding. Add garlic, chopped celery, and cabbage. If you're adding broccoli or peas, do that last. You can also add in herbs of choice at this point:
2 T parsley
1 tsp Oregano
1 1/2 tsp basil
optional: 1 tsp ground coriander
Simmer until the carrots are tender but still firm and the rice is soft. Add in your broccoli, peas, and chopped chicken from the fridge. Warm through.
If you need to extend the broth, add water and bullion granules.
Some awesome cheddar drop biscuits.
(inspiration for these comes from here)
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
4 tsps baking powder
2 T sugar
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup butter-flavored crisco
1 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or co-jack)
Put flour, salt, baking powder, sugar, and garlic powder into a medium bowl. Stir thoroughly with a fork. Add the crisco and stir that with your fork until you get that coarse-crumb texture we all know and love. Add milk and stir with fork until just combined. Add cheese and stir lightly until combined.
Drop by tablespoons onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 425° for about 10 mins or until the tops get gold in spots. Let them rest a minute after you pull them out before removing from pan.
Roast chicken
1 whole chicken
1/4 cup of sea salt
1 T ground black pepper
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tsp poultry seasoning
2 T softened butter
Take your thawed or fresh chicken and rub that sucker with butter. Get your hand between the skin and meat and rub butter there, too. This makes the skin crispy. Sprinkle with all the spices, saving the salt for last. Make sure the salt gets all over the whole bird. You can put aromatics in the cavity if you like. (onion, celery, carrots, crushed cloves of garlic) Cover with foil, bake in 350° oven for about 30 mins or until a thermometer reads 160° in the breast. Take the foil off and let the skin crisp up in the dry heat until desired color is reached. Don't be shy.
Acorn squash
I like to get these done fast. I also have only one rack in my oven, so this method is my ideal solution.
2 medium acorn squashes (squashi? squash?)
1/2 cup brown sugar
4 teaspoons butter
Split the squashes in half and remove seeds. Clean your microwave plate very well. Put the squash, cut side down, on the plate and nuke for at least 5 mins or until soft. Turn over, put into a pie plate or whatever will hold them (I put them on the rack of my toaster oven), and sprinkle with brown sugar and add a pat of butter. Bake at 350°, basting occasionally with the gooey liquid in the middle until you have nicely browned squash. You can slice these pieces in half and just serve in their shells (my favorite, no hassle method) or allow them to cool slightly and scoop the flesh into a serving bowl (the kids' favorite no hassle method). Add salt if desired.
Mashed potatoes
I was a bit leery of making mashed taters with skins, but these turned out great. The secret is to have a friend who can really scrub potatoes, or use thin-skinned yukon golds. (scrub those, too)
1 large potato or two small potatoes per person, scrubbed and nasty parts cut out
1/4 cup butter (at least)
1/2 cup sour cream (at least)
2 teaspoons chicken bullion granules
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
Cut the potatoes into large chunks and boil until soft. Drain thoroughly and allow to cool/dry for just a minute before dumping into mixing bowl. Add all of your add-ins before mixing, sprinkling evenly over the top so you don't have to mix too much. Begin mixing on medium-low, using your spatula to encourage larger chunks through the blades. Mix until lumps are mostly gone, but not until potatoes get slimy. Some people call slimy mashed potatoes creamy. They are wrong. Creamy mashed potatoes should still have a somewhat starchy texture and shouldn't ooze on your plate when you plop a pile of fluffy potato goodness in a place of honor next to the chicken. Correct spices early on so you don't have to over-beat.
The carrots were just steamed in my rice cooker steaming basket and tossed with butter and salt. Stuffing was from a box and made according to the directions. I also like to steam whole kernel corn and eat that with my mashed taters.
What to do with a carcass:
Remove as much meat as possible. Dice up meat and set it aside in the fridge.
Place the remaining carcass, including the wings, tail, neck, and any drippings you might have accidentally left in the pan from gravy making (heck, you can even add left over gravy) into a pot large enough to hold your bird, a couple of quarts of water (or enough water to cover) and a few extras.
Extras:
An onion, peeled and rough chopped.
Any carrots you might have, even those slightly old, dry-looking ones.
Celery, especially the hearts and any leaves you're not going to use for the soup.
More cloves of garlic, smashed.
A few cardamom pods, crushed.
1 T pepper corns.
3-4 bay leaves
Put the heat up to high until it's simmering. Reduce the heat to low or med-low and simmer. If you boil this, the flavor will be off. Just simmer for at least an hour, but the longer the better, up until about 6 hours.
IMPORTANT: I've heard of people making their broth and then putting their strainers in the sink and dumping their precious soup stock down the drain while retaining the ugly, sorry-looking pile of trash that made it. DON'T do this. Put a bowl on your counter (one large enough that the drainer can nest inside), put your drainer in that, and then dump. Don't worry if your "other stuff" is still sitting in the broth at this point. Simple lift the drainer and place it on a plate with a lip. Let this cool while you work with the rest of the soup. If desired, run the broth through another fine sieve just in case your big one isn't thorough enough. This will keep any rogue pepper corns or cardamom seeds out of your soup.
1 large onion
3 large carrots, scrubbed, or three handsful of baby carrots
Celery, if you have any, washed
MORE garlic (mwa-hahahaha)
fresh ground pepper to taste
1/4 cup of long grain rice (or brown rice, yum)
any other veggies you want to add. I like to put at least one green thing in, as well as some chopped cabbage.
Chop the onion up and add to a sautee pan with butter. Grind some pepper over it and sautee until it begins to turn color. Add chopped or small-diced carrots and brown those up a bit, too. Deglaze the pan and put all that into your broth. Add the rice. Honest, it gets huge, so don't go over-adding. Add garlic, chopped celery, and cabbage. If you're adding broccoli or peas, do that last. You can also add in herbs of choice at this point:
2 T parsley
1 tsp Oregano
1 1/2 tsp basil
optional: 1 tsp ground coriander
Simmer until the carrots are tender but still firm and the rice is soft. Add in your broccoli, peas, and chopped chicken from the fridge. Warm through.
If you need to extend the broth, add water and bullion granules.
Some awesome cheddar drop biscuits.
(inspiration for these comes from here)
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
4 tsps baking powder
2 T sugar
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup butter-flavored crisco
1 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or co-jack)
Put flour, salt, baking powder, sugar, and garlic powder into a medium bowl. Stir thoroughly with a fork. Add the crisco and stir that with your fork until you get that coarse-crumb texture we all know and love. Add milk and stir with fork until just combined. Add cheese and stir lightly until combined.
Drop by tablespoons onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 425° for about 10 mins or until the tops get gold in spots. Let them rest a minute after you pull them out before removing from pan.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Election
I woke up last night from a dream that Obama had won the election in a landslide. I shrugged it off, telling myself to wait until morning to go check the numbers again.
By 4am, I lost the fight with my curiosity and got up. Man was awake from illness and pain, so I told him I was going to get a drink of water. Of course I got one so I wasn't lying, then ran to the computer. There, before my tired, puffy eyes, was the realization of my dream.
I took a box of tissues to my violently sneezing husband and asked him if he wanted to know who the next president of our nation was. We talked for a couple of minutes, staring at the ceiling, our minds in a whirl of hope and wariness.
We both supported Obama. Despite the videos depicting him as a baby killer (he didn't vote for it because the wording of the bill would have suspended any abortions from taking place, putting many lives in danger and removing a woman's choice to abort), despite the accusations of being a Muslim (1- he isn't, and 2- what's so evil about Muslims? Christian extremists are just as bloody, just as deluded as their Muslim extremist counterparts), despite his middle name - Hussein (if my middle name was Ladin, would I be considered a bad person? or is who I am what I make of myself with God's guidance?) we liked what he said, liked his track record, and he was clearly better than McCain in thought and delivery. They are both highly moral people (or, that's how they both present themselves) but definitely have a different way of going about encouraging those morals.
I'm thrilled that he won. I'm also thrilled that he won by a landslide so we won't have any of this recounting nonsense. I'm thrilled that the man whom I consider to be the vastly superior choice for president has been elected such. I'm thrilled that Palin will never enter the White House as a resident there.
I'm also wary. I've been burned enough times by people and government to keep my hope in check until he does what he has promised to do. Further, even if he does come through, I'm waiting to see that the desired results come to fruition. I admire his acceptance speech and hope that everyone takes it to heart, as I have. Being American is about work, and trying again and again to make the best homes, families, cities, states, and country we can. I have mixed feelings about the Dems being in total control now, since that makes everything so one-sided, but I'm also glad that Obama won't have as much resistance when it comes to the changes he wants to implement right away.
I also admire McCain's concession speech. He trod a hard road the past several months and bowed out with grace and dignity. I wish him well.
Folks, no matter how you voted, thanks for voting. The American people have chosen my husband's next boss, the absolute last word in his chain of command. The fate of my husband and family rests precisely in God's hands but this man will have a huge impact on every aspect of our lives.
So.... here's hoping.
By 4am, I lost the fight with my curiosity and got up. Man was awake from illness and pain, so I told him I was going to get a drink of water. Of course I got one so I wasn't lying, then ran to the computer. There, before my tired, puffy eyes, was the realization of my dream.
I took a box of tissues to my violently sneezing husband and asked him if he wanted to know who the next president of our nation was. We talked for a couple of minutes, staring at the ceiling, our minds in a whirl of hope and wariness.
We both supported Obama. Despite the videos depicting him as a baby killer (he didn't vote for it because the wording of the bill would have suspended any abortions from taking place, putting many lives in danger and removing a woman's choice to abort), despite the accusations of being a Muslim (1- he isn't, and 2- what's so evil about Muslims? Christian extremists are just as bloody, just as deluded as their Muslim extremist counterparts), despite his middle name - Hussein (if my middle name was Ladin, would I be considered a bad person? or is who I am what I make of myself with God's guidance?) we liked what he said, liked his track record, and he was clearly better than McCain in thought and delivery. They are both highly moral people (or, that's how they both present themselves) but definitely have a different way of going about encouraging those morals.
I'm thrilled that he won. I'm also thrilled that he won by a landslide so we won't have any of this recounting nonsense. I'm thrilled that the man whom I consider to be the vastly superior choice for president has been elected such. I'm thrilled that Palin will never enter the White House as a resident there.
I'm also wary. I've been burned enough times by people and government to keep my hope in check until he does what he has promised to do. Further, even if he does come through, I'm waiting to see that the desired results come to fruition. I admire his acceptance speech and hope that everyone takes it to heart, as I have. Being American is about work, and trying again and again to make the best homes, families, cities, states, and country we can. I have mixed feelings about the Dems being in total control now, since that makes everything so one-sided, but I'm also glad that Obama won't have as much resistance when it comes to the changes he wants to implement right away.
I also admire McCain's concession speech. He trod a hard road the past several months and bowed out with grace and dignity. I wish him well.
Folks, no matter how you voted, thanks for voting. The American people have chosen my husband's next boss, the absolute last word in his chain of command. The fate of my husband and family rests precisely in God's hands but this man will have a huge impact on every aspect of our lives.
So.... here's hoping.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Voting
Princess came home today to hear us talking about voting tomorrow. Man has already voted via absentee ballot. She got excited about a project they are doing at her school where all of the kids get to vote for the guy they think should be president of the US.
I immediately got wary.
Me: So, is it anonymous? Are your teachers going to find out who you vote for?
Princess: I don't know.
Man: Do you know who you're allowed to vote for?
P: Nope. Who are they?
Me and Man: [exchanging glances]
Man: Well, the whole idea of voting is to educate yourself and vote for the person who you think would best serve our country.
(I thought he did a really great job of being totally neutral on the topic)
Me: Texas is historically Republican, isn't it? How do we know their teachers aren't going to be biased? Is she going to come home and tell me I'm wrong?
Man: -sigh- (I have that effect on him sometimes)
Princess: So, what are their names?
Me: There are two people the nation is focusing on. Their names are John McCain and Barack Obama.
Princess: I think I'll vote for the guy whose name is easier to say.
Me: Um, I think you should hear what each of them has to say before you choose.
Princess: Who are you voting for?
Me: Obama.
Princess: Why?
Me: I think he's better than the other guy.
Princess: Ok, I'll vote for him.
Tag: Do you know who I'm going to vote for? Obama.
Me: Come on, guys. You need to hear what they are about before you vote.
Man: Not that it'll matter anyway, with the electoral collage and all that.
Me: Oh, come on. I'm not going to waste women's suffrage on political pessimism.
-sigh-
So, go vote. Educate yourself, pray, and do this great country a service.
Princess: I've had perfect attendance at school so far!
Me: That's great! I'm glad you're going to school and liking it.
Princess: [pause] Jesus was perfect. Did he have perfect attendance at school?
Me: Well, um, he died kind of young. I think he missed out on a few things in life.
Princess: Oh, that's sad.
Me: Yeah.
I immediately got wary.
Me: So, is it anonymous? Are your teachers going to find out who you vote for?
Princess: I don't know.
Man: Do you know who you're allowed to vote for?
P: Nope. Who are they?
Me and Man: [exchanging glances]
Man: Well, the whole idea of voting is to educate yourself and vote for the person who you think would best serve our country.
(I thought he did a really great job of being totally neutral on the topic)
Me: Texas is historically Republican, isn't it? How do we know their teachers aren't going to be biased? Is she going to come home and tell me I'm wrong?
Man: -sigh- (I have that effect on him sometimes)
Princess: So, what are their names?
Me: There are two people the nation is focusing on. Their names are John McCain and Barack Obama.
Princess: I think I'll vote for the guy whose name is easier to say.
Me: Um, I think you should hear what each of them has to say before you choose.
Princess: Who are you voting for?
Me: Obama.
Princess: Why?
Me: I think he's better than the other guy.
Princess: Ok, I'll vote for him.
Tag: Do you know who I'm going to vote for? Obama.
Me: Come on, guys. You need to hear what they are about before you vote.
Man: Not that it'll matter anyway, with the electoral collage and all that.
Me: Oh, come on. I'm not going to waste women's suffrage on political pessimism.
-sigh-
So, go vote. Educate yourself, pray, and do this great country a service.
Princess: I've had perfect attendance at school so far!
Me: That's great! I'm glad you're going to school and liking it.
Princess: [pause] Jesus was perfect. Did he have perfect attendance at school?
Me: Well, um, he died kind of young. I think he missed out on a few things in life.
Princess: Oh, that's sad.
Me: Yeah.
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