Wednesday, June 29, 2011

"F" day.

Yes. Today is an "F" day. A stupid stupid FAT day. GAH.

I helped myself to a whole sleeve of several Oreos.

http://www.nataliedee.com/archives/2009/jan/

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Dad's Whole Wheat Bread



3 cups pretty warm water
1T yeast

5 minutes to foam

1 cup rolled oats
3-4 cups whole-wheat flour
¼ - ½  cup honey or brown sugar
Add to yeast until looks like good mud 
rise for 30-45 minutes

1 T salt (very important)

3-4 T gluten
            3-4 cups white flour
¼ C to ½ C 7 grain cereal

Knead dough for an honest five minutes let the dough raise for one hour (until it’s doubled).  Shape into loaves let it raise for 30 minutes

400 degrees for 30 minutes (My dad and sister do 30 min... I've have often raised the temperature to 425 for 30 or 400 for 45 minutes, just tap it, if it sounds hollow, it's done).

Monday, June 27, 2011

"Each Morning..."

“.... when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.” ~Groucho Marx

Sunday, June 26, 2011

3 things...

I am a good cook. I know I've said this one before, but today I am making Sunday dinner for 12 people, so I am reminding myself.

I am a good mom.

I am a good housekeeper (not always clean, but when it counts I'm good).

Diabetic Etiquette

1. IT DOES HURT. Stabbing yourself with needles and pricking fingers to test blood sugars always hurts. Sure, callouses develop, but making yourself bleed never feels "good".  There's no really "getting used to it". So don't ask me. IT DOES.



2. YOU COULD DO IT IF YOU HAD TO. If I had a dime every time someone said "I could never give myself shots, put in a pump, only eat eggs for breakfast, poke my fingers 10+ times a day..." then I would be a rich women.  Bottom line: YOU WOULD DO IT IF IT KEPT YOU ALIVE. 



3. I CAN EAT SUGAR.  This is a generational idea about diabetes.  In the olden days, they didn't have the drugs or testing devices that they have now.  Today,  with type I diabetes I can eat basically whatever I want, as long as I shoot up with the right amount of insulin and TEST TEST TEST!



4. I DON'T MIND TALKING ABOUT IT, BUT IF YOU'RE SUPER CURIOUS WIKI IT OR ASK YOUR DOCTOR. Feel free to ask me questions about it. I'm not ashamed of it, it's not embarrassing like a YEAST INFECTION. But REMEMBER I'm not an expert. I know about diabetes and I explain it to people all the time.   I can tell you the symptoms and the "gist" of it. Sometimes I get my facts mixed up, I'm not a doctor. I was diagnosed when I was 13 and the "crash course" they gave me at the hospital was a million years ago.  Since then I have done research and asked questions for myself, but again, I'm no endocrinologist. 



5. I AM GENERALLY A NICE PERSON, IF I'M ORNERY, I MAY BE LOW.  Forgive me for my lows. They suck. A real symptom of low blood sugar is ornery-ness. Even dear old Mr. R forgets that sometimes.



6. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME FOOD WHEN I'M LOW. I try to be prepared and have an emergency granola bar, or bits of candy in case of low blood sugar.  But when I've already eaten the emergency carbs and have ANOTHER LOW,  I've had to lower my pride and ask others for food. It's embarrassing, but thank you for having some and saving me from passing out.


 7. NOT ALL DIABETICS ARE OVERWEIGHT. Type II diabetes is GENERALLY the type of diabetes that overweight people have, but there are always exceptions. Skinny people can have type I or type II diabetes.  Diabetes can't always "go away" I will forever and always have it.




HELPFUL LINGO: 
LOW= needs sugar (if a diabetic is passes out, this is likely the case DON'T GIVE THEM A SHOT OF INSULIN).
HIGH= needs insulin (usually a diabetic can feel highs, then tests, and adjusts insulin accordingly).
BLACK THING= what I refer to my glucose meter as. It is black. It's a thing. Every meter I've ever had has been black.
PUMP= Kind of like an I.V. or an external pancreas. I have one. It's not a cell phone or a beeper.  I have to change it every 3-4 days, and it's not permanent.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Hot Fudge Sundae Cake

This cake is SCIENCE. When you cook it you get this delicious cake and Oooooey Gooooooey fudge-ness that goes wonderfully with ice-cream. NOT DIABETIC FRIENDLY. In fact, I ONLY prepare this when we have guests, because it is SO BAD for blood sugars (54g Carbs for about 1/2 C). So really if you have diabetes, do yourself a favor and SHARE this with someone :)

1 C flour
3/4 C sugar
2 T baking cocoa
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 t salt
1/2 C milk
2 T Canola oil
1 t vanilla
1 Cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 C brown sugar
1/4 C baking cocoa
1 3/4 C VERY HOT water (I usually leave the faucet running until it's so hot it burns my skin... not blister hot though).

ICE-CREAM (I prefer vanilla, and have even used vanilla frozen yogurt to soften the carb blow.. yeah right...)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Mix flour, sugar, 2 T cocoa, baking powder and salt in an ungreased 9x9 square pan (YES NOT A BOWL DO IT IN THE PAN, LESS DISHES).  Then mix in the milk, oil and vanilla with a fork. Stir in nuts.

Sprinkle brown sugar and 1/4 cup of cocoa over the batter. pour hot water evenly over the batter. Bake 40 minutes.
TOP WITH ICE-CREAM, share and ENJOY.

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

I got this recipe from my sister and it it FABULOUS. I keep forgetting where I put it, so if I post it then I will always know where I can find it! :)  I have also tried grilling the chicken and marinading it in the sauce while grilling and that turned out really well. ALSO chicken breasts work WONDERFULLY, and I think I would venture into the world or PORK RIBS too. THANKS SISTER!

3lbs of chicken wings, I used drum sticks
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups of BBQ sauce
1/4 cup honey
2tsp honey
2 tsp spicy mustard
2 tsp worcestershire sause
couple shakes of tabasco to taste

Instructions:

Place wings on broiler pan, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil on each side for 10 mins. Make sure each side has been salt and peppered then put chicken into a crock pot mix remaining ingredients and pour over wings. Low heat for 3 hours, high for 1-2 hours.

GREAT for leaving in the crock pot while you go to church, or have a super busy day and don't feel like cooking much. 

ONE MORE THING, this is a PROTEIN meal, so it's fabulous for us diabetics out there!! Very little carbs, and if you wanted to opt out of the MINISCULE amount of honey it calls for, I'm sure it wouldn't ruin the flavor... too much ;)

Friday, June 24, 2011

Breakfast

It would seem that "normal" low carb breakfasts are a myth, unless you want to eat eggs everyday of your life. Some things to do with eggs for breakfast:

The "usual":

Omlet (loaded with veggies and low fat cheese)
Scrambled (mixed with a T of water, an egg can go further)
Over easy with toast/English muffin (a bit more carbs, but you've gotta change it up sometimes!)

So anyway I am sick of eggs.
I tried one of those "shake" things, it was decently tasting.. but I was hungry too soon. Maybe next time I'll try it with toast. .. .. or eggs.  

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Lettuce Wraps


4 T teriyaki sauce
2T White rice vinegar
2T honey
1 tsp corn starch
½-1 tps crushed red pepper

4 tsp Sesame oil
2-3 chicken breasts
4 T grated peeled ginger
2 Cloves of garlic
½ C green onions

1 ½ cups grated carrots
1 cup bean sprouts
1 Cup snow peas Cut Lengthwise
1C mushrooms
¼ C toasted almonds

Bib Lettuce 

 Mix Teriyaki sauce, vinegar, honey, corn starch and pepper in a medium sized bowl.
place cubed chicken in Teriyaki mixture and marinade 30 min-1 hour (or don't if you're in a hurry).
Saute Garlic, Onions, and ginger in Wok or large frying pan. Add Chicken.
When Chicken is cooked through add vegetables. Sprinkle Almonds.  
Serve by spooning Chicken mixture into the lettuce.

Kids Crafts for Summer

This may turn into a "Stuff I'm gonna Do" list.  But because I have found myself with a job this summer I want to have some planned things to do with my kids this summer, that way we can make some memories and hopefully they won't feel too neglected by their mom.


Bubble Art
Hula-Hoop Rug
Rainy Day Ideas
Popsicle Stick Bracelets
Paper Mache Piggies
Summer Snack Idea
Butterfly art
Jersey Knit Bracelet
Kids Science Projects
Hot ROCKS
Paper Cone People
Paint Chip Sample Crafts
Grass head Monster
How to Play Hopscotch
Make a paper Boat
Oobleck
Newspaper Beads
Party Poppers
Beanbag Balls
Ice-cream in a bag
Kool-Aide Play Dough 
Kool-Aide Tie DYE

Okay so I probably won't get to do this all with the THIS WEEK. But I think we will be able to cross a few off the list now that I actually have a list instead of millions of "bookmarks" sitting on my computer tab waiting to be clicked on.  Good luck and have some fun with your kids this summer!!

job

I got a job today. Pretty sure I just want to be a stay at home mom... too bad we need money. Stupid stupid money.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Banana Bread

For some reason I LOVE using wheat flour in my recipes. Something about being a diabetic, it metabolises slower so you don't have to use as much insulin..? I don't know, I'm sure there is SOMETHING scientific behind it because that's what they served me at the hospital when I requested "diabetic" meals.  So now, if I can I put wheat flour in where I can. 

Today I have some bananas going bad on my counter here is what I am deciding to do with them:





1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed very ripe bananas (3 to 4 medium)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4C white  flour 
1 ¼ C wheat flour
½ tsp Cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped nuts, if desired


  1. Move oven rack to low position so that tops of pans will be in center of oven. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottoms only of 2 loaf pans, 8 1/2x4 1/2x2 1/2 inches, or 1 loaf pan, 9x5x3 inches.
  2.  Mix sugar and butter in large bowl. Stir in eggs until well blended. Add bananas, buttermilk and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt just until moistened. Stir in nuts. Pour into pans.
  3. Bake 8-inch loaves about 1 hour, 9-inch loaf about 1 1/4 hours, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen sides of loaves from pans; remove from pans and place top side up on wire rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours, before slicing. Wrap tightly and store at room temperature up to 4 days, or refrigerate up to 10 days.

Dance

This made me feel really really good today so I am sharing it :) 
I used to be a dancer and watching this show remind of the passion and love that I had for it.  Dance is a great way to express yourself and relief stress. I have since had to find different ways to express myself because I no longer dance, but I try to find time every day to jete in the kitchen or do a little wiggle dance with my kids.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Who You Are

I found this song today and it completely says what I needed to hear.  So I thought I would share it.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Lunch

The "secret" for lunch:

LOW FAT GRILLED CHEESE
Whole wheat bread
fat free cheese
"I can't Believe it's Not Butter" spray
Deli Ham

I have no idea what I"m going to eat when I can't grill my lunches at school, and those nasty Microwave lunches are just so bad for the body.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Self-Worth

I think it is amazing how helpful this blog has been to me and I haven't even been at it for a week.  Writing can be so therapeutic.  It might also be the fact that I am forcing myself to say three nice things about me everyday. 

Last night I hosted a "Ladies Night In" and we made home-made facials then watch "The Young Victoria". I think I need to make it a monthly ritual, it's nice to pamper yourself every once in awhile, it's good for self-esteem :)

Today's Eating Update:

I love ice-cream. Any "diet" or lifestyle change WILL have ice-cream in it.  When I am serious about weight loss I switch to FROZEN YOGURT. I will also admit I am easily swayed my commercials. SO I went out and bought some Magnum ice-cream. It did not hold up to expectations. ~sigh~ The outside dark chocolate was amazing but the ice-cream was no Häagen-Daz. 

Tonight is DATE NIGHT!! :D:D We already had a wonderful round of family bowling and now it's time for some one on one with my Man! YAY! I think I will take this opportunity to dress up, not just for him but for ME! I love having an excuse to dress up and with any luck at all it won't back-fire and I end up looking fat in everything I own.  (Positive Mental Attitude....)

3 things...

I am a good organizer of events.
I look fabulous in black.
I am easy to talk to.

Best Chocolate chip Cookies



You must try these chocolate chip cookies. I have made them many many times sometimes with margarine, sometimes times with real butter and real vanilla or fake vanilla, I've used wheat flour and regular flour, I've added macadamia nuts with white chocolate or just plain ol' chocolate chips. Pretty much I think everyone needs to at least try these cookies. Post about it if you try them! I'd love to hear about it!


The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (I know this seems low, but just do it!)

1 Cup butter/margarine
2 Cups of brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar

2 eggs

Cream together sugar and butter then add the eggs

4 teaspoons vanilla extract if you're using real vanilla only use 1-2 teaspoons
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda

mix and then add:
3-3 1/2 cups of flour, if you choose to use wheat flour then do 1 1/2 cups wheat and 1 1/2 cups white

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup milk chocolate chocolate chips

roll into balls (I use a 2 inch cookie scoop) then press the balls down, it really doesn't matter how far you press them down, in fact it's my kids' favorite part of the recipe, if a two year old can do it, SO CAN YOU!

Bake for 15-17 minutes. In my oven 16 minutes is perfect!

ENJOY!

These cookies are SO good with some vanilla ice cream smashed in between them.

Ham Tomato Pie

3-4 slices of cooked ham, cubed
Green onion
pie crust
1Tbs Dijon Mustard
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tomatoes sliced (I use garden tomatoes or "on the vine")
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1Tbs fresh basil
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 425 F
Saute Ham and onion until ham is brown and liquid evaporates
brush the bottom of the pie shell with Dijon mustard and sprinkle with 1/2 C cheese, put ham mixture on top of cheese. Put tomato slices on top of ham mixture.  Beat the egg and milk together then pour over the tomatoes, sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top of the tomatoes with the basil, salt and pepper. bake for 20-23 minutes. Let cool. Serve.

White Bean Chili

I got this recipe from "Southern Living Homestyle Cookbook" But I HATE HATE HATE having to wait for dried beans to soak and then to cook, it takes FOREVER. They also use only one kind of bean, and frankly chili deserves so much more then ONE kind of bean.  So I made several tweaks... enough to call this recipe my own.
Picture from "Southern Living Homestyle Cookbook"
White Bean Chili

1 Tbs Olive oil
1 medium onion
4 cloves of garlic

1 Can Northern Beans
1 Can Garbanzo Beans
1 Can White Kidney Beans
1 Cans chopped green chiles undrained

1-2 chopped cooked chicken breasts 

1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano

1 cup montery jack cheese
Garnish with cilantro

Heat oil in a sauce pan, saute onion and garlic on medium heat.  Add beans, chiles and chicken. Mix in the spices, bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer. Stir in cheese and garnish (or add) cilantro.