Happy Blog Birthday to Me!!

Happy One Year Blogging to me! I was sitting here wondering when did I officially switch from my Green Book Blogging to Electronic Blogging so I looked and my first post was 10/14/10. If I would have been really on top of things I would have started on 10/10/10, but that is never the case anymore.

Three hundred and forty-one days, plus 79 posts later who knew I had so much to say? Although, in reality 79 posts in about a year's time is really not that much compared to other bloggers, who commit and post a new blog each day. I probably would join them if I required less sleep.

I am happy that I have made it a year even though my blogging is sporadic, it serves a great way to practice my hobby of writing, capturing memories and hopefully within these random ramblings and reports of mine may somehow encourage others, make them laugh, and hopefully exalt the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yes, I am still wimpy and still proud of that truth! In that when I am weak, He is strong (2 Corin 12:10).  In fact, just this week Darryl left the house and left me alone with the kids. Which I hate to be left alone. See. Wimpy.

Darya and I had just returned from her medical testing. I had just prepared her lunch (actual Darryl made the infamous Ramen Noodles) and I supplemented it with a grilled lactose filled sandwich. I had just sat down to eat my brunch when...knock...knock... Grrrr....see failure. Don't get between me and a hot meal especially when I am hungry. At the door stood a kid who looked a little older than my 9 year old son announcing he was here to spray our house inside and out for pest. "Does that include you?" No, I did not say that, I may have thought it but I didn't say it. I did grill him over who hired him to come and was he at the right house. I am pretty sure he was ready to high tail it out of there because he asked, "Is this not a good time?" I wanted to say "Scat!" but instead I was nice and said, "no it is fine come on in".

Next he went outside to spray the perimeter of the house. I almost made it back to the chair when...knock....knock.... does this kid not know that I am trying to eat? So I went to the door and the pest control guy says, "I found a creature on the side of your house. I am not sure what it is, but it isn't a rodent...and it is alive." Okay, my mind instantly flashes back to my husband telling me that our neighbors seen a rat the size of cat in our neighborhood. So being brave and all, I waved my hand at the guy telling him, "just take care of it." He proceeded to tell me they aren't allowed to take live animals off people's property. I won't tell. Really. Then he asked if I wanted to see it? So after I decided if tall leather boots or running shoes be better I followed him around the house; all the while his professional experienced words echoed in my mind..."creature... I am not sure what it is...creature....alive...." plus the rat the size of cat story didn't help - then add on top of all this - the "professional pest control" guy doesn't know what it is. I was totally expecting to see something that I have read about in Revelations, something with five eyes, six arms and two heads!

As we rounded the corner of the house I was cringing as to what I was going to see. When nothing of creature proportion size stood out I asked this professional, "where is it?" He said, "it is right over here by the fence line". I know I am maturing and I no longer have 20/20 vision and all, but I didn't see the creature I had conjured up in my mind. When we go to the fence line what I saw was what I think was a baby mouse or mole. The kid picks it up and places it in the palm of his bare hand to show me that it was still alive. He told me he couldn't take it, so I told him just put it back where it was then and I'd have my fearless husband take care of it. He suggested I call the City Animal Control. I did only to amuse the staff there. Which they laughed too and told me to wait for it to expire then use a baggy to pick it up and put in another bag, set on the edge of the curb and call them and they would come pick it up.

The kid then comes back in the house to give me the paperwork; when he asked if school was out. I told him no that we home school. He said, "oh yeah, 'home school' I know some people who home school and the kids can barely read or write" Oh yeah, buddy? Those are fighting words! Not only can our son read and write, he knows the difference between a rodent and a creature! Jayden said I want to go see it! I said you can go look but don't touch it or pick it up those "creatures" can carry diseases. Immediately the "pest control professional" said, "Do you mind if I wash my hands?"

Actually, it looked more like a mouse than a mole.

As my introduction of my blog says: "It's my desire you will see that Jesus indeed is real and alive. I hope to capture all the "abouts" of my life...about my failures and His redeeming power...about my weaknesses and His all consuming power...about my uncertainties and His perfect assurances...about how God can take our imperfections and transform them into something beautiful, if we let Him. So instead of the 'cheese touch', I hope to share a Jesus Touch with you and it will spread in a positive way! It's not a diary...it's my life."

Cured of Fresh Mixers

ALERT!!! ALERT!!!! This is a friendly warning provided by an oops-forgot my lunch today coupon-sucker friend. This meal is one reason I am thankful that Homeland only doubles the first coupon; otherwise, I may have ended up with a pantry full of these “Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers”. The fact that this meal was only pennies does not help the taste at all! In fact this meal could be used on Fear Factor it is so disgusting.

I love the Chicken Linguini with Red Pepper Alfredo Healthy Choice Café Steamer, but the “Fresh Mixer” was one of the WORST meals I have ever eaten, including MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) and now I know WHY I like to cook, not to mention that it is a WHOPPING 8 points! While 8 points is certainly an acceptable point level for a meal, its costly if that meal is nasty. If you are on WeightWatchers like me this is a great reminder to always check your point value before buying and especially consuming even if it says "Healthy Choice" or any other deceptive tags and photos that Marketing people use.

This ONE is Good.

After the first bite I should have thrown it away, but I could hear my mother’s warnings that a child in China was starving and would love to have that meal. So I dredged through the process bite by bite like I did at home when I was made to eat my veggies and clean my plate.

Not only was my mom’s voice ringing in my head, but my husband’s voice saying, quit brining home processed boxed food. I don’t care how cheap or free they are. I wonder if this is what James meant by falling into various trials?

Well after that “Fresh Mixer” experience I confess I am cured. Healed.

Really, I am. I have given away my processed food coupons and pledge only to use coupons for needed health and beauty items and food items that I will use to cook with, not heat and eat processed foods.

Which means - I have to cook. I love to cook, but cooking takes planning and preparation. And TIME. The one resource I lack the most. So the other option is eating out. Our family’s goal is to eat out only one meal a week. We don’t always get to stick with it, but it is a rare week if we eat out two meals. How about you? How many meals do you eat out a week? And if I may - one more question, what food or restaurant beckons your name every week?

My New Motto: Pumpkins are made for Eating not Carving

This morning I posted on Facebook “Prayers needed for my sanity today, please! Darya is doing prep work for some medical procedures tomorrow and she is not cooperating. Yes, this too will pass, but right now it is very possible I may be wearing an orange suit soon! Whew,..okay I feel better. Wow, confessions really do work.” So since that confession felt great I thought I would open this blog with more confessions.

I love the fall.

I love the clothes that accompany cool weather, especially boots. Yes, I know I am an Indian wearing Cowboy boots, but I do stay away from cow-patties, all shapes and sizes!

I love the crisp, freshness of walking out in cool weather and inhaling deep allowing all that goodness deep in my lungs. Although I haven’t had that experience yet this season, it is just not that cool yet, but I am looking forward to that  moment.

I love comfort food! The kind that makes you want to crawl up on the couch with a good read! Are you with me?

To my last confession for this blog, I am not a pumpkin fan.

One evening this past week I was on a search for new recipe inspirations when I found a blog called SkinnyTaste, it was featuring Crock PotTurkey White Bean Pumpkin Chili, wow that is a mouthful for all the measurements be sure to check it out at SkinnyTaste at the link above. The picture looked yummy until I read the ingredients and reached "one can of pumpkin puree (not pie filling)". First off I am “Hamburger HelpMe Harjo” not Paula Deen, Rachael Ray or even the Pioneer Woman and for this reason I don’t know the difference between pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie filling. So when I don’t understand, I ask. A friend from WeightWatchers and the lady from the blog both answered, the pumpkin pie filling has spices in it, but pumpkin puree is 100% pumpkin. That was simple and painless.

I am pretty adventurous and because of that trait I am willing to try new things and it is the only reason that I have moved beyond the box. I posted the link on Facebook and come to find out my parents and sister both said, "it sounds yucky". Yes, they did, they said "yucky". So here is my pictorial, outcome and verdict. Hang on because it is a culinary powerhouse of comfort food!

Here is the line up...minus one ingredient that I later discovered missing.
Another reason you will want to visit SkinnyTaste to get all the ingredients right.

Brown the ground turkey in a cast iron skillet, it will make you feel like the Pioneer Woman.

In case you are visual like me, this is the ground turkey all browned up with no pink in it.
Now for the fun! Transfer the meat to your crockpot.
I love crockpots they make me feel like a Culinary Rockstar!

Then back to the laptop to see what's next. I love cooking with my laptop.
It's a relationship that I've been developing. Shhhhh...don't tell my can opener.

Next, saute the chopped onion and minced garlic in the oil for about 3 minutes.

Add the cumin and continue to cook. The onions started to caramelize, ohhh....what flavor!
Next, add this to the meat in the crockpot.

Time for Commercial Break...I love these silicone oven mitts!
They are some of the hitchhikers that came home with me from Dallas on Spring Break.

Like I said, I do not consider myself a great cook or a baker, but I have moved beyond the box. When Darryl and I first got married I did my shopping only on the boxed food isle and the end caps, if they weren’t there I didn’t get them. Now I supermarket sweep the place and now with coupons!

I have to diverge a bit to share a “green book story” – which is a green book I begin to keep in 1996 when I married Darryl and became an instant mom to Megan and Brandon. They were so funny I had to write things down and I am so glad I did! The green book holds funny stories and things our children have said or done. This is one of those green book stories.

 The day I became an instant Mom.

I still remember the first time when Darryl, Megan and Brandon came to my apartment the kids asked for something to eat. Sad to say my fridge and cabinets consisted only of ramen noodles, mustard and the most necessary condiment on earth…ketchup.

The Green Book

I was doing my boxed food and end isles shopping at the commissary when a meat lovin’ crazed woman was beckoning shoppers over to tell them that the ribs were .98 pound. I looked cluelessly

 Don't you love that artwork? Yes, I am related to Spongebob Squarepants.

BREAK over, back to the Crockpot Sensation!



See how confusing this can be? Doesn't it look like this should be pumpkin pie filling?
My can opener is still on the scene and a favorite of mine.

Then add all the remaining ingredients to the crockpot and mix together.
Set the crockpot on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours and walk away!
Go to work, go shopping, just go and forget it. Speaking of forgetting it,
remember that one ingredient I mentioned that I forgot?

Well....it isn't these.
The missing ingredient was "Red Cayenne Pepper"

   

So what do you do when you are missing an ingredient? I Googled it and Yahoo! Answered.

Red Cayenne Pepper Substitute

1 teaspoon paprika
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon oregano
2 teaspoons garlic powder

However, this would make more than I needed, so instead of jumping in my bug, which we have named “Fashion” I improvised with ¼ teaspoon of ground cumin, ¼ teaspoon of ground red pepper, dash of favorite hot sauce, okay – maybe it wasn't in this substitute concoction but it was in another and I thought one dash wasn't sufficient so I added two or three dashes and 1/2 teaspoon of the most essential spice in an Okie's cabinet...Lawry’s Seasoned Salt.

See that Bay Leaf swimming in there? Bay Leaves are  odd. The look like
something you could just pick up out of your yard. Of course, I didn't have
Bay Leaves and I was telling a co-worker about it and she brought me some
of hers. I hope they weren't out of her yard.

I wish I could bottle up the aroma and post it here so you could smell it, like a Scratch and Sniff Monitor Screen. Wouldn't that be lovely?

The final product

So I may not be totally against pumpkin now. After all, God created pumpkins and all that He has made is good. In fact, pumpkin may just change my kitchen life especially when you get an entire cup of this stuff for a measly three points it will be easy not to grow weary in eating good. For three points you can either double up or if you prefer add some cheese or chips. Next recipe with pumpkin, the Super Moist Low Fat Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Glaze.