Easy Peasy Recipes: Red Beans and Rice

So today was Sunday, and I seriously used it as a rest day.  I was lazy.  LAZY with a capital L.  I did go for a run (1.73 miles in 20 minutes) and walk for 22 minutes too.  I'm doing a 5K training plan, and today I was supposed to run 1.5 SLOW miles.  So instead, I ran 1.73 SLOW miles.  I was a little disappointed that the RunKeeper did not tell me when I had hit 1.5 miles.  I may need to play with the settings.

I digress.  I have been COLD all weekend long.  It's in the 50s here in 'Bama, and anyone who lives here knows that is downright cold for us.  I feel like I will go outside and get a chill and just can't warm up. 

So today, I decided to make red beans and rice to warm me up.  My Mom used to make a great recipe when I was growing up, but alas I did not have it.  Instead, I browsed the Internet and came up with Paula Deen's recipe. She is right about this recipe: it is super easy to make.  It does take a long time though, because the beans are not soaked over night.  Still, in my opinion it was worth it. I modified the ingredients a little bit to my liking:

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons bacon fat, lard, or olive oil
1 pound andouille sausage (I bought the pre-cooked linked sausages and cut them into rounds)
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped (I minced mine, since I have a great mincer and I like to use it!)
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 pound dried red beans
1 ½ teaspoons salt (I cut this down to 1 teaspoon)
1 teaspoon hot sauce (I cut this down to 1/2 teaspoon)
6 cups cooked rice (I used Yellow Saffron Rice, and not 6 cups, as we don't eat that many carbs)
¼ cup sliced scallions (I forgot these, but they would be good on top!)

I also serve it with Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar.  My Mom always did this when I was growing up, and I love the way the balsamic vingear taste mixed in the with red bean flavoring.  Delish!!!

Directions

In a large pot or a Dutch oven, heat the fat, lard or oil over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook until golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook, stirring, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the cumin and thyme and cook for 1 minute.
Add the beans, salt, hot sauce, and enough water to cover the beans by 2 inches. Bring the mixture to a boil. Immediately reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 1 ½ hours. Uncover and simmer until the beans are tender and the sauce has thickened, 30 to 45 minutes, adding more water if necessary. Serve over the rice, topped with the scallions. And with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

 

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Serving Size: 8

It was seriously delicious, but way too spicy for my kids.  Next time, I may cut out the tabasco completely OR use a milder sausage.  But, it hit the spot for me on a cold day.  Yum.

Easy Peasy Recipes: Perfect for the Fall

Perfect for the Fall: Acorn Squash

 

It's Fall, and here in 'Bama we're even having Fall weather.  It's amazing, and it puts me in the mood for Fall favorites like squash! I've always eaten regular yellow squash, sauteed on the stove, boring old squash. So yesterday at the grocery store, I decided to step out of the box.  I bought a beautiful Acorn Squash, though I had NO IDEA how to make it. The Internet is a world of wonders though, and within minutes I had a simple recipe to play with.

 

So, first set the oven to 400, then cut the Acorn Squash in half.  You need a sharp knife for this, and a stable hand.  When you cut it, it will look like this:

 

 

Then scoop all the seeds out of the middle with a spoon.  Take a knife and score the sides (make little cuts in the side), and in the bottom in multiple places.  This helps the squash soak up the juices while cooking in the oven. 

 

Then get all your ingredients ready: Brown Sugar, Maple Syrup, Salt, Butter, Nutmeg and Cinnamon...plus a little wine for you to sip on while you're waiting for the squash to cook.  Remember: the wine doesn't go in the squash!

 

 



 





Put 1 tablespoon of butter into each half of the squash.  Then 1 tablespoon of brown sugar into each half, and drizzle Maple Syrup over the inside of the squash (1 teaspoon each side).  I added salt, because we use non-salted butter, and then I also added nutmeg and cinnamon for a little more taste (1 teaspoon each side). 

 

Place in a dish or inside a pan with a little bit of water on the bottom so the squash does not stick:

 

 

 

Place it in the oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes at 400 degrees.  Sit on the couch, enjoy a sip or two of wine, while it cooks and take in the amazing aroma as it feels your house.

 

And here is the finished product:

 

Drizzle the leftover sauce at the bottom over the remaining acorn squash, and serve this tasty Fall treat. Serves 2-4.

 

*********************************************************************************

 

Ingredients:

• One Whole Acorn Squash (cut in half)
• 2 TBSPs of Butter
• 2 TBSPs of Brown Sugar
• 2 TSPs of Maple Syrup
• 2 TSP of Nutmeg
• 2 TSP of Cinnamon
• Dash of Salt
Optional: Crushed Walnuts

Directions:

Set over for 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut Acorn Squash in Half.  Scoop out seeds. Score sides with knife.  Put 1 TBSP of butter in each side of the squash, 1 TBSP of brown sugar in each side, 1 TSP of maple syrup in each side, 1 tsp of nutmeg in each side, 1 tsp of cinnamon, and finish off with a dash of salt.

 

Put a little water in a baking pan or dish, then place acorns in dish.  Cook at 400 for 1 hour and 15 minutes. 

 

Serves 2-4.

 

Let cool! Enjoy!

 





Easy Peasy Recipes: Sausage Balls

I'd like to start a new, occasional, post on easy recipes that we like.  I've found a new love of cooking this year.  A lot of these recipes have come to me from other people.  This particular recipe was passed to me from a co-worker.  Here goes:

Cheesy Sausage Balls

 

 

This is my favorite breakfast food right now, and it is totally simple to make.  You need three ingredients: Bisquick, sausage, and cheese.

 

Set oven to 350.

 

To begin with, take your one (1) pound of sausage and place it in a mixing bowl.  Do not cook the sausage beforehand.

 

Pour in two cups of cheese.

 

Pour in three cups of Bisquick.

 

*Side Note: I only use 2 cups of Bisquick in this recipe, because I use organic breakfast sausage, which is not as greasy as Jimmy Dean or other types of lower grade meat.  Adjust to meet your needs.

 

I usually put in a little bit of water to help the Bisquick, meat and cheese stick together.  This is not necessary if you use a greasier sausage. 

 

Then mix.  I use a mixer with the bread attachments, and they work really well to mix the Bisquick, meat and cheese together.  The bread attachments are the ones that look like little hooks, and they come with most mixer sets. 

 

Once it's mixed together, you can take a scoop and scoop out balls onto a cookie sheet, or use your hands to roll balls and place them on the cookie sheet.  This recipe fills up one and half cookie sheets. 

 

Place in the oven for 15-18 minutes. 

 

The finished product:

 

 

 

 

I enjoy them hot out of the oven, and then I bag and freeze some to pull out during the week.  Just pop them in the microwave for a few seconds and they're still just as delicious.

 

*********************************************************************************

 

Ingredients:

 

1 lb of Pork Sausage

3 cups of Bisquick (adjust if using higher grade meat)

2 cups of Cheese (I use Cheddar)

 

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl.  Roll into balls.  Place on a cookie sheet.  Heat in the oven at 350 for 15-18 minutes. 

 





Goal Post Tuesday June 5, 2012

Today is Tuesday and that means it's goal day!  I have lost a total of 40 pounds.  I can barely believe it, except for all the clothes that are falling off when I wear them!  I've been really digging skirts, because of the elastic waists that they usually have. 

I skipped goal posting last week.  I've had a busy two weeks, and blogging has taken a low place on the priority list apparently.  Although I skipped, I did think about my goals from the week before. 

I had several goals, and unfortunately the only one I achieved was losing the 2 pounds.  We have not posted the rules for the kids, but I really want to do this before summer starts.  Number One and Number Two are in need of some limit setting, and Hubby and I are sort of pushovers in that department.  I love the kids, but I have to admit that discipline is not my strong point.  I have a temper, so I get angry, or I'm too soft.  There's sort of no middle ground.  We had a time when we had rules posted in the house, and it worked really well, so I'm going to do it again. 

My other goal last week was to write every day, and this didn't happen either.  I did a lot of reading last week and sitting around when I wasn't at Taekwondo.  I just didn't have the energy.  In fact, I've been fighting off a cold, and I think that's why my body is so tired.

This week, my goals are all about organization.  I'm trying to organize some aspects of my life, so things flow more easily.  It may be hard for me to make these goals too, because I'm going out of town on Friday, so I don't have as much time to accomplish them, but I'm still going to set them down in writing.

• Make a Chore Chart for Hubby and the Kids: We're in bad need of a physical reminder, with a checklist, of items that need to be cleaned around the house.  Sure, we can sit around and look at the mess and clutter and complain about it, but having a list to check off will surely help us accomplish more.  I've tried this before, and it didn't work, but we're going to try it again!
• Create a Calendar: I want to be able to post a monthly calendar on our fridge, so everyone knows where everyone will be on a certain day.  Our schedules are so busy, that I think this will help.  I'd also like to use this calendar to fill in certain things like: Lauren cook dinner tonight, Hubby pick up kids today, etc. 
• Clean Bathrooms: I know that you all don't want to know the ins and outs of our potties!  Putting this here actually helps me achieve this dreaded chore.  Every time I've put it on my blog I've cleaned them.  So once again, clean those bathrooms!!! 

Now I'm off to make this yummy chicken.  I'll let y'all know how it turns out.

Ramblings

I'm tired.  I have a cough.  Yes, I feel like complaining, and this is my blog so I can do it.  It's Monday morning, and I have a short week at work.  This coming weekend, I'm going to enjoy a girl's weekend with my friends from elementary/middle/high school.  We used to all come together one a year for a wedding shower, then a baby shower, but alas we have all been married and we've all had, at least, our first child!  So this weekend, we're meeting for food and fun.  I'm so excited to see these girls, who every time we get together it's like we've never left each other. 

I've been pretty awful with picture taking lately.  I don't know why.  I keep forgetting the camera.  I have an iphone, and it takes "ok" photos.  I've been using it more than the camera, because it already comes everywhere with me. 

And speaking of iphones, or smart phones in general: I don't know if this thing is a blessing or a curse.  I mean, every minute of every day, I have access to the internet, my friends, texting, my email box.  Yesterday, while I was at my Mom's house, I left the thing in my car and it was like the 1990s again!  No pinging constantly, no one trying to reach me, awwww...pleasant solitude.  I had everyone with me that needed to be with me, why did I need to be reached that minute of have instant access to Shazam! or to Google or to any number of apps that do semi-useful (or more appropriately, semi-useless) things for me!

This is the last week of school for Number One.  I can't believe he is almost a second grader.  He has come so far this year.  He's also starting to look so much older, lengthening out, and his face is getting that boyish look instead of that babyish look it has always had.  His hair is darkening up. He's becoming more "reasonable" about some things.  He's bull-headed like his mother.  He has a constant thirst for knowledge, and he won't let anyone win a fight.  I love the kid.  I fear the summer a little bit for the lack of routine.  He thrives on routine.  He'll be in a summer program though, so hopefully it will be okay. 

This post is so rambly, and I have no photos, so I'm going to end it so I can go start the crockpot turkey chili that I have to make this morning before work. Adieu...

Goal Post Week of May 1, 2012

I'm moving the goal posts back to Tuesday.  I like it here, at the beginning of the week, giving me more to aspire to as I move through my days.  When I post them on Thursday I tend to forget them in the weekend shuffle.

I have a eating problem right now, as in I'm eating everything in front of me.  I don't know why, but all of a sudden my appetite is back with a vengeance.  I think this may come from my new found love of cooking.  When you start to cook again, you can open the refrigerator and imagine the possibilities!

This week I made this yummy olive bread from the Pioneer Woman site:

Source: thepioneerwoman.com via Lauren on Pinterest

I know, it has olives in it right? So it has to be healthy for me.  Um, it also has a whole stick of butter, mayo, and a whole pack of cheese! Delish, yum, bad for my hips! So, needless to say, I did not lose my pound this week.  I didn't gain a pound either.  I'm sort of just stuck at my last number, and I still need to lose at least twenty pounds.  I hate feeling stuck.

As for my goals last week, I didn't do such a great job! I think I'm going to carry a sticky note around with me and cross them off the list as I do them.

I managed to clean the bathrooms.  I deep cleaned the two downstairs bathrooms, and we vacuumed and mopped the living room area, de-cluttered, cleaned the kitchen, and that was enough for me.  Son Number One had friends over on Sunday (and we had their parents over!) and so the upstairs looks like it was destroyed by a tornado!

I also made food last week twice.  The family wasn't so appreciative of the salmon I made on Saturday, but I'm trying to add fish to our diet at least once a week.  I'm trying to make what we eat healthier.  Needless to say, the kids may drop a few pounds, because they keep turning their noses up at everything I make! 

My goals this week:

• Log onto MyFitnessPal (MFP) every day, and be honest with my food intake.  I need to track how many extra calories I'm eating, so I can cut down and lose.  MFP wants me to eat 1200 calories a day, and it seems like so little.  Of course, I can eat more on exercise days.
• Workout five days a week.  I'm switching to day classes twice a week to be home more at night.  I have to push myself to go in the middle of the day, because if it's a hard workout it leaves me really tired at work.
• Read.  This may seem like a silly goal, but my reading has taken a backseat to everything.  I'm in the middle of Anna Karenina, and I'd like to finish it before the end of the century.  Plus my writing is not coming along like I wish it would so instead I'm going to find the time to read.  Reading can help aspiring writers!

Goals Week of April 23, 2012

My posts are all over the place!  When I first started this blog, way back in November, I was writing goal posts on Tuesday and Wayback Wednesday posts on Wednesdays.  Now, I've just been fitting them in wherever. 

One of my goals this week is to work on a Wayback Wednesday post for next Wednesday.  I have a lot of "Wayback" stories to tell, and I think this blog serves as a sort of journal for my adventures in the past.  I haven't even divulged some of the craziest times in my life or the best adventures!!!

This week, I had a goal to lose one pound, which I didn't achieve.  I think this is because I lost four pounds last week.  I haven't gained, and certainly last night after doing over 100 situps in TKD, I came home and my stomach felt a lot flatter.  It certainly will never be flat like it was before Number One, Number Two, and Darling Daughter came along, but I wouldn't trade them for the flattest stomach in the world!

I haven't written this week.  I've had too much going on.  I plan to write some tomorrow, but my other big goal is to clean my bedroom and to clean the bathrooms (all four of them!).  My bedroom is such a pit.  I've had a problem keeping my bedroom clean since I was, um, born or at least since I was fifteen or so.  I'd like to reorganize my life, and keeping the house clean is part of that.  I also need to do a deep clean, dust, mop, etc. this weekend.  It's on my short list.  We'll see if I can get it done.

I've continued to love cooking in my crockpot.  I made a Weight Watchers chicken and dumplings recipe, and it was pretty good.  I enjoyed it, and the kids enjoyed it which is always a bonus.  They are sometimes so hard to please when it comes to food.  I want to make crispy salmon this week with noodles, but the coconut oil it called for cost $10 at the grocery store. $10 for something I'm going to use once, no thank you!  I guess I can substitute a different type of oil, but will the recipe be as good?  Anyone know?

My goals this week are:

• Lose 1 pound (I know, this is so creative!  I bet you are so sick of reading this!)
• Clean Bathrooms and Bedroom
• Write or Edit my writing
• Continue to cook two meals a week

Weight Loss and Goals for the Week of April 17, 2012

I'm a little behind on my goal post this week.  April 17 - April 22 = Week With TOO MUCH TO DO!!!  I have something every night (except Monday, and that's already passed!).  I can't wait for next week to come, so I can relax a bit.

Last week we had Taekwondo testing, so I haven't had Taekwondo at all this week.  I'm missing it and honestly I feel like a lump, because I haven't had the time motivation to fit in another type of exercising.  I really thought I would gain this week, but I lost four pounds.  I'm down a total of  35 pounds now.  It is so hard to believe. 

Hubby took this photo of me yesterday with Son Number Two, and I can actually see the weight loss.

So, I reached my weight loss goal for last week.  My goal this week is to lose another pound.  My Mom said the break from Taekwondo may have let my body adjust to the muscle build and lose the weight.  Maybe, but I sure do miss my stress relief during the day, and I'm excited to go back on Saturday.

I had another goal last week (that was a typo!): to receive my third degree black belt! HA!!!  That won't happen for awhile, but I do believe I'm going to receive my third level green belt tonight.  I have Awards tonight, and I'll be moving on up.  Taekwondo goal for next week: Remember by green belt form!  We've been working on the Ho Am form, and I really need to re-learn my green belt form!

Writing.  Oh writing, you are taking a back burner in my life. I wrote about 4 pages in my novel this week.  Writer's block?  I can't tell.  I have been blogging, thinking about writing, thinking of my characters, researching on the way people act in relationships, etc, but the truth is I did not produce what I thought I was capable of producing in my writing this past week.  I'm not setting a writing goal this week, because it's unrealistic.  I have too much going on this week.  I'll concentrate on it next week, once we're back to our regularly scheduled program.

Cooking.  Wow, I have found a new love for cooking.  I forgot how much I liked it back in my younger day.  I think it's so fun to create something for the first time and try it.  I'm not much of an "old hat" chef, but I LOVE making new recipes and trying them.  We bought a crockpot, and I think it is the best invention ever for working parents.  I made barbeque chicken in it this week, and then chicken meat for tacos.  Both recipes were great, and will help me contribute more in the "cooking" department.

Goal Post and Other Updates 04/10/12

This past week was Easter.  I ate and ate, and I ate some more. I managed only to make it to taekwondo on Tuesday and Friday with kisado on Wednesday.  Hubby went out Monday and taekwondo was closed on  Saturday for Easter. 

I thought with the lack of exercise and the extra eating I'd be up a lot.  Imagine my surprise when I stepped on the scales on Sunday night, and I was only up one pound.  This morning, I stepped on the scales, and I was down two pounds.  I actually lost my one pound this week, despite the extra eating.  I have been replacing my attitude with a calm optimism that I'm going to lose this weight, and I'm going to be strong.  I feel it coming off, and I know I've changed my whole outlook on life this year.  I feel better about myself, more confident and happier. 

Here's a photo of me with Darling Daughter on Easter.  I think I'm looking so much thinner (and stronger!  My brother commented on my muscular arms.  They're getting there!)

Looking at this photo is funny to me.  The thing I notice the most is my lack of eyebrows.  I'm starting to think of having them tattooed on, but I recently saw a woman who had it done, and it looked horrible.  I also could draw them on, but I just don't have time for that in my life. 

I actually am starting to like the way I look bald, better than the way I look with my wig on. I've thought about just shedding the wig and being completely bald all the time.  It is who I am.  I'm not sure my co-workers are ready for it though.  Here's a photo of me and Darling Daughter from March, and I'm au natural!  Lack of eyebrows when you're bald looks more "normal" to me!

My other goal for this past week was to make dinner, at least once a week.  I succeeded.  I made a Mexican/Cheesy/Casserole.  I found the recipe on Pinterest.  God, I love Pinterest!  It was delish, but a little dry.  Next time I might try to add more liquid to it and also make it a bit spicier.  We will be eating on it all week, since the kids didn't really eat it and even though portion size said 5 servings, those must be portions for giants or something!

I didn't complete the taxes this week, but Hubby did!  Thanks to Hubby for that.  It was so nice to have it done. 

In other news, Darling Daughter had tubes put in her ears today.  The surgery went well.  They took her back, screaming and kicking, put the mask on her and she was out, and the tubes were in within a matter of minutes.  The doctor said her left ear looked horrible.  She had pus and an active infection in that ear.  She'll have antibiotic eardrops to take this week, as the ear drains.  Hopefully this will give our sweetie a little relief. 

She came home and slept for about three and half hours, as the anesthesia wore off.  Then she woke up in the best mood, and she sat on my lap reading me books and having me read books to her!  She's such a sweet baby.  She gave me kisses and said, "I love you Momma.  I love book, Momma." 

I didn't write this week. I was preoccupied with stuff going on in my life.  I need to work on my novel this weekend.  In fact, that will be a goal for next week: Write 5 pages.  I've written 20.  My characters are stuck in lalaland waiting for me to come back.

I hope to lose 2 pounds next week.  Maybe I can do a big jump, but I'm not counting on it.  I'd love to lose 5 pounds and be down to my next middle number!  I only have either 19 or 29 pounds more to lose (depending on how I look and feel once I get down 19 more pounds!) I will never be one of those skinny little girls, and I will always have to work to keep my body fit and the weight off, but that's fine with me!

Also, taekwondo testing is Friday (the 13th!), so another goal is to get my third degree black belt.  I have to break a board this time, and do the new Ho Am form.  I'm a little nervous.  Yesterday at taekwondo we sparred, and I thought I was going to die at the beginning of my third round.  It is amazing how something you only do for a minute and a half at a time can make you so out of breath.  I guess I'm still not in wonderful shape!

The Bluest Eyes

Darling Daughter was delighted this evening to have Mexican food for dinner.  She smiled at me, and I shot a few photos.  I love this one of her the best:

She has the most beautiful eyes, and I continue to think she is the most gorgeous baby in the world.  Of course, I'm a bit biased.

This weekend was busy, as always.  I kept thinking two things: I need to figure out what I'm doing for the kids' Easter baskets and I need to buy diapers.  Neither item was completed, so I'll be going out on my lunch tomorrow to try to take care of that.

Instead, yesterday I did kisado and taekwondo.  Son Number One came with me, so gimpy Hubby would only have to watch two crazy children.  Son Number One was rearing and ready to go when we finished, but I was enjoying conversation.

I think I overdid it, because most of yesterday I was tired.  I ended up taking Son Number Two to have his first haircut.  He really didn't need it, but he's been asking for one for an eternity and he finally had enough hair to actually be cut.  The stylist was impressed with how still he was. He loved the buzzer.

I was so proud of my boy.  Afterwards, we walked over to Target, because it was such a nice day.  Son Number Two wanted to show me what he wanted for his birthday.  I still can't believe he will be four in a little over two weeks.  Time flies.  While there, I stared at the diapers, but we had walked down there so I didn't buy any.  I did, however, buy much needed workout pants and a new sports bra.  Yay!  I love Target. 

Afterwards, we went home and the kids acted nutty until it was bedtime.  I went to bed at 8:30, because I was just exhausted. 

I woke up today at 6:30 AM, and my day started.  Hubby can't do much around the house, so I'm trying to pick up the slack.  We went upstairs and cleaned Son Number One's room.  It looks so much better, and we'll work on the other two in the next few days.  I also did about a hundred loads of laundry.  I went grocery shopping with all three kids.  Then I managed to go to dance.  Such a long and busy day, and I really felt productive but tired.

I made this yummy recipe that I found on Pinterest. I enjoyed it, and the kids thought it was so-so (maybe a bit too spicy for them).  Plus, mine did not look anywhere near as pretty as hers.  My enchiladas fell apart!  Oh well!!!

What a wonderful weekend, but as normal it went by too quickly.