Cream of Whatever Soup

Sometimes dinner has looked bleak lately.  Really bleak.  Like order a pizza bleak.

However, the problem with that is it snowballs and before you know it you have a stack of pizza boxes the size of your nine year old.

What's a working mama to do?

Tonight, I grabbed the chicken thighs and the cream of whatever soup, and went for it!

I know, I know, cream of whatever soup is horrible for you.  It's full of stuff no one can identify.  When I think about it, though, so is the take out food.  And the take out is more expensive, more salty, and I feel more guilt about serving/eating it.

My "recipe" (we'll use this loosely) was to get out a 13x9 pan and in a 4 cup measuring cup and in the measuring cup I put my can of soup, about a teaspoon of garlic powder, and a teaspoon of onion powder with maybe a quarter cup of chicken stock.  Mixed it all up, spread 1/2 in the 13x9, placed all the boneless chicken thighs around in the pan, and then spread the rest of the soup mixture on top of the chicken.  Into a 375 degree oven it went.  On the side I planned roasted brussels sprouts and potatoes.

It did smell good, I will tell you that!

*Update*
After eating said creation, I have decided that this recipe would be a WHOLE LOT BETTER if you use chicken BREAST and not the thighs.

Give it a try and see what you think.  If you change it up drop a comment and let me know what you did and how it went!

A Beautiful Place to Go

Here in lovely NH, we had school vacation last week.  While I was enjoying time with my family, I came to recognize that I had not posted anything in QUITE SOME TIME on my blog.

Today I found myself with some free time and an urge to connect.  While nothing earth shattering has happened in my tiny world lately, we have been enjoying some really great family trips and days spent enjoying just "being".

We recently took a small trip to Franconia Notch in New Hampshire and spent the day biking and hanging out at The Basin.  I took a few photos of the beauty that surrounded us.

Cannon Mountain

View from where we lunched.

Pool at The Basin

Isn't the color of the water so pretty?

We also spent time in Boston, taking in the sights and seeing a Red Sox game.  We also did a little of my favorite, time at home just enjoying being together.  We watched way too many movies (the ENTIRE Lord of the Rings series) and eating food that is just too good to pass up.

Now, as always, we are back to reality and back to being focused.  Baseball and track will occupy our weeks and some of our weekends.  Soon road races will start up and we'll travel to run for all different reasons.  A recent post I put on Facebook went something like this:

"I love the sense of renewal that comes with a warm, sunny spring day. Like anything, anything at all, is possible, no matter what happened yesterday. It's like all the dreams you have for yourself are attainable and all you have to do is step out into the sun and grab hold of them."

As much as I love winter, I am ready for spring and summer.  What are you looking forward to?

Enjoy your week and I look forward to sharing again soon!

T

Decisions

It was brought to my attention that I spend too much time on the computer.

They were right.

My biggest offenders were Facebook and this blog (and maybe a little Pinterest sprinkled in).

So, perhaps a little too quickly, I yanked the plug on everything.

Yes, everything.

I dropped my Facebook page and pulled my blog offline. I have to admit that not being the tethered to Facebook has been sort of a blessing.  I'm not feeling the need to check status updates or to try to remember every cute, anecdotal thing that has happened to put up as updates. My kids aren't finding me with my nose stuck in the screen instead of paying attention to them. I have started reading books again.

However, I did miss this space.

This space where I can put down my thoughts, my ideas, and every so often share them with others who might be interested in the same things. This space where I can share triumphs, missteps, and knowledge. This space that is creative, that is unique, that is mine.

So, while I'm not jumping at getting back on the Facebook wagon, I am happy to be back here. Back to sharing and back to being part of the "moms just doing the best they can" club. And also happy to be more present for my family in the process.

Too much screen time is just as bad for mommies and daddies as it is for kids. We need to be aware of how plugged in we actually are.

I apologize for my pulling away. Let's get back to where we were.

T

Life Stages: 35 - 55 | Mireille Guiliano's "French Women Don't Get Fat"

We had a snow day the other day, and I found myself digging through a pile of websites and came across this article which spoke to me in my quest for "enough".  I have attached the link to it in case you are interested.

Life Stages: 35 - 55 | Mireille Guiliano's "French Women Don't Get Fat"

I also did some great stuff today to attend to the things that are important to me.  I did some laundry, I had a second cup of coffee, I took a walk with my son, and I baked.

And baked.

And baked.

Banana chocolate chip bread, pumpkin bread, granola bars, and a chicken (o.k., that is really roasting, but it was in the oven so I counted it).

Did I take any pictures?  NOPE.

Did I sample my goodies?  YUP.

I will get my act together and share the recipes I used.  The granola bar one is REALLY good.

O.K., off to bed.  I have to get some sleep so the bags under my eyes are only the size of a coin purse instead of the size of a suitcase.

Be good!

T

Enough

Enough.  One word that can mean so many different things.

It can elicit feelings of worry, as in will we have enough money to pay the bills.

Feelings of fullness, like I had just enough in my lunchbox.

Feelings of accomplishment, "I've studied enough and I feel confident for the test".

The word enough for me always causes feelings of guilt.  I'm not doing enough.  I don't give my kids enough time.  I don't bake enough. I don't knit/craft/sew enough.  I don't exercise and take care of myself enough.  I don't write on my blog enough.  I don't make my faith a priority enough.

And now I'm here, and I've had enough.

Enough feeling like I always come up short.  Enough putting myself last, or taking myself off the list.  I'm setting bad examples, especially for my daughter.  I've had enough of that.

I've also had enough of making little resolutions and then not following through.  Why do I do that?  Normal people don't make decisions to change and then not do them.  They at least try!

(Sigh)

So, even though I did not do the things I wanted to do for myself and my family today, I have taken a long, long, LOONNNGGGG hard look at myself.  A long look at my excuses.  A long look at my expectations in comparison to my reality.

And I've made some decisions.  I'm looking forward to setting goals.  I am looking forward to following through.  I'm looking forward to sharing with you.

I'm looking forward to being enough.

Dried Beans and the Crock Pot

My giant crock pot.  If you're going to make something, go big and make a lot!

Have you ever found yourself in the aisle at the local grocery store staring at a bag of dried beans wondering, "Why would people buy this stuff?  What do you do with it?"

Dried beans are super cheap, super nutritious, and can help stretch almost any meal that you can think of.  They are, however, very time intensive.  Or at least most people think they are.  I first started working with dried beans when I took over making my Gram's baked bean recipe.  I learned how they have to soak overnight, then boil for an hour to soften up.  There is nothing like homemade baked beans.  I just needed to figure out a way around the hour of boiling.

Then came the information about how the cans used for beans, soups, sauces, etc. were lined with BPA in the lining.  As a mom and wife (and human being) who doesn't want to eat contaminated food if I can avoid it, I started looking for options other than the cans on the shelf.

That is when I came up with my method for using dried beans.

How to cook Dried Beans using your CROCK POT!

Four easy steps:

1.  Soak the beans overnight.  Do not skip this.  It is important to soak your beans so they absorb some water and so they are more digestible when you eat them.  Don't be that person who thinks this is not a step they need to take!

Beans in water.  Let them sit over night.

2.  Drain the beans, place them in the Crock Pot with new water.  At this point, if you want the beans to be flavored, you can add stuff to the water (i.e. onion, herbs, garlic, etc.).

Drained from the overnight soak.  Put them in the crock pot with enough water to fill just about an inch from the top.

3.  Put the beans on LOW for as long as you can let them run.  I usually do about 8-10 hours, but most often 10 because then it gives me more time to get ready to process them when they are done.

4.  Let the beans cool.  Don't be a hero and handle hot beans! That is silly.  I actually put the crock pot out in my sunporch which isn't heated and at this time of year is about 20-30 degrees.  They did not freeze and did not take up a bunch of space in my fridge.

5.  Once the beans are cool, pour the entire lot into a strainer to get rid of all the excess water.  You can get a bunch of freezer bags and a one cup measuring cup.  Scoop the beans by the cupful into the bags (I actually put 2 cups in a bag), label, seal and flatten.  You can stack them flat until they are fully frozen, at which point they will stand up nicely.

Cooled, drained beans.  Ready for scooping!

I used a one cup measuring scoop.

I marked the bags so I will know what's inside in a couple of months when I forget!

I got just over six cups of beans, divided into three bags.  

You can see I already did this with some white beans as well.  Great for soup and pasta!

When you are ready to use them, thaw and add to whatever menu yummy you had planned for that day.  One difference you will find in comparing these beans with canned beans is that you do not have the extra liquid that comes in the can.  This is easily solved by adding water or stock/broth to whatever you are cooking to make up for the missing liquid.

I love using beans this way.  I have done black beans, red beans, kidney beans and white beans.  I usually get about 6 or more cups of beans from one bag.  With this bag of black beans I got about seven cups.  I have a couple of bags of dry red beans that are going to be done up next.  That will set us up great for chilis, soups, stews, and pasta dishes.  In one week you could have enough beans frozen to last two or more months.  Not bad!  If a one cup or 1 1/2 cup can is almost 2-3 dollars, then using the dried beans at about one dollar or so a bag is a great way to save money!

I'm also thinking about trying out a black bean burger recipe, but it will need to get a little warmer and less snowy before I think seriously about grilling!

Perhaps you already use this method to cook bulk dry beans.  Or, maybe you have another amazing way to use dried beans?  I love to hear your ideas!  I hope you found this idea helpful!

Enjoy!

T

I'm always amazed.....

I'm always amazed at how time just slips away when we aren't paying attention....

The past few weeks have seen some hectic activity in my little home.  Not to mention a blizzard, illness, and just overall tiredness.  I let my writing get put to the bottom of the barrel of all the things on the the to-do list.

The ever-present laundry....

To-do list, original 1/2 page

I started with a small, 1/2 page to-do list.  But then it grew into 1 1/2 pages.....

It's amazing how long that to-do list can just get to be!

I was bustling around, figuring out the most efficient way to get these items accomplished, when my poor Loola came down with some no good, very terrible illness that includes a VERY HIGH fever.  Needless to say I have not really left her side.  When she was very little she had a very high fever which caused a very scary seizure.  We found out it was the body's way of protecting itself from the fever she was experiencing.  However, to this mama, who was at the time 5-6 months pregnant with Moo, it was the most terrifying thing I had, or have, ever experienced.  I know she is out of age range now when that happens, but I am no less scared every time a temp rises up above 102.5.

So, I stay nearby, armed with ibprofen, gatorade drinks, cool cloths, and the telephone.  Just in case....

On a more positive note, today I might take some time to exercise my creative muscles.  To write, to knit, to cook, and to maybe bake up something a little yummy!  Although, I am also very happy curling up with a book, or two, or three.  I'm reading a book on mindful eating, which is a skill I definitely need to learn.  This mama is not good about many things when it comes to eating correctly.  For example, I do not eat slowly, I do not eat only when hungry, and I do not focus on the eating.  In fact I focus on everything else, which means I hardly ever even taste my food.  I end up roaming the cabinets later after the meal looking for the elusive "something to eat".  Which, inevitably, ends up being something sweet, salty, and generally unhealthy.

I would like to set a better example, thank you very much.  God didn't give me this body to treat it badly.  He also didn't give me my children to set bad examples for.  My goal for this week is to slow down when I eat and put my fork DOWN in between bites.  It's a small first step, but that is truly all I'm going to be able to focus on.  (I swear I have the attention span of a gnat!)

This weekend I also rediscovered the farmer's market, which I THOUGHT was closed until spring but found out sells winter items.  YAHOO!  I was so excited to get over there and get some goodies to help me make meals for the next three weeks.  I bought two chickens, two pounds of ground beef, two pounds of italian sausage, and two pounds of bacon.  (A little like Noah's Ark of farm meats.)  I also bought salad greens, danishes (sorry, we ate those before I could get a pic) and homemade beef jerky (same deal with that).  The danishes and jerky fueled our day of nordic skiing.  Next time I go, I'm going to get some of the maple kefir, homemade soap, and possibly some yogurt.  Maybe some more bacon too, because it is so easy to use for so many different things.  Perhaps a couple more chickens as well.  You can't have enough chicken at our house!

Chicken stock based soup is on the menu for the evening.  I need to raid my fridge and freezer to find some other items to put in it.  Otherwise it will be four bowls of chicken stock.  I don't know about your family, but I know that mine would sit at the table and just give me "the look" if I tried that.  I guess they have higher expectations!

I'm glad to be back to posting.  The time away, although unintentional, was good in its own way.  However, I do like sharing better.

I hope everyone has a great week.  I can't believe it is already the middle of February.  Spring is going to be right around the corner before we know it!

T