Sausage cheese biscuits

2-3 C of biscuit mix ( I prefer Pioneer or Jiffy just because I don't like that Bisquick "taste")
1 C of browned, crumbled breakfast sausage
1 C of shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 - 2/3 C of milk

This was just something I wanted to try and thought would work well together.  And it did--they are fantastic!
Place biscuit mix, sausage, and cheese together in a large bowl and mix to combine.  Add 1/2 C of milk to bowl and mix together.  You want all to be combined but not be sticky wet.  If you still have a lot of biscuit mix that is dry then you can add a little more milk.  If your mix is too wet then you can add extra biscuit mix. 
Line a baking sheet with parchment or spray with Pam.  You can either use a spoon and drop the biscuits on the pan OR you can flour a board and roll and cut your biscuits.  This is totally up to you---I prefer mine rolled out but  it doesn't really make any difference in the taste of the final product.  Bake at 350 for about 10 to 12 minutes or until golden.  Eat warm.

Chili morphed with taco soup

OK, that may be the weirdest recipe title ever!  This started out as taco soup, then I thought no chili, but then it just kind of worked out as a combo.  Took it to work today for lunch and all seemed to like it so I thought I would share.

1 lb ground beef, browned and drained of fat
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can of pinto beans drained
1can of dark kidney beans, drained
1 can of light kidney beans, drained
1 bag of thawed frozen corn or one can of corn drained
V8 juice
salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder

Put meat, veggies, and beans all together in large pot.  Mix well.  Add V8 juice.  The quantity on this is up to you, depending on how thick (chili) vs. thin (soupy) you want this.  My was really pretty thick and more chili/stew like than soup like.  Once all combined, add seasonings to taste.  I put a lot of garlic and onion powder--probably 2 to 3 TBSP.  I also added in a small can of mild green chili peppers which did not taste so mild!  Now if you like spicy, that will probably work great for you, but for me and my acid reflux, it is not an addition I will repeat in the future! :) Warm through and serve with tortilla chips and grated cheese. 

You'll probably think I'm crazy but ...

OK, I fully recognize that after many of you read the following recipes you are goign to think that I am totally nuts.  But, all that I can do is share my experience with you. 

So, I have a friend on Facebook who has been working for about a year to lose weight and get his blood sugar under control.  In passing in one of his updates he mentioned "the Green Smoothie Diet." So, I being me, got online and started researching and then I got a book.  Now, the woman who wrote the book also eats a "raw food" diet.  Meaning all raw foods.  I am not moving toward that, but I was very interested in her story of how drinking green smoothies helped her and her family members to restore their health and "cure" chronic health problems they were having.   If you are a regular reader of the blog you know that I recently found out that my vitamin D is scary low and I am starting prescription strength D to correct the problem.  However, it could potentially take months to get my D levels up to what is considered normal and healthy.  need some help now.  I have been so exhausted, for months, that I nap every day.  I struggle to accomplish everyday chores around the house.  Many days the 10 minute drive home from school is a constant fight to keep my eyes open because I feel bone weary.  Additionally, I have constant bone and muscle aches.  So, on to the green smoothies. 
I drank my first one on Thursday afternoon and my second Friday morning.  Friday I felt better than I had in months and it was the first time in a very long time that I didn't have to take a nap.  Since then, I have not had to nap once.  I am a little tired but not exhausted the way I have been.   So on to the recipes...

1/2 head of romaine lettuce
2 ripe bananas, peeled, sliced and frozen
2 oranges, peeled and seeded, cut into chunks
1 mango, sliced
2 cups water

Put all ingredients in a blender.  Blend until smooth and drink immediately

1 C frozen mango chunks
1 C water
1/2 C fresh or frozen strawberries
1/2 bunch fresh mint leaves
1/2 C apple juice
Blend til smooth and drink

1 C spinach
1/2 cup pineapple chunks
1 banana
a few mint leaves
1/2 C orange juice
blend til smooth and drink

OK, those are just a few of the recipes.  You can get more info online and the book that I bought is Green Smoothie Revolution by Victoria Boutenko

I KNOW it sounds crazy and like it would taste nasty.  I promise it doesn't taste bad at all and you can always add more fruit to make it even sweeter if you need to and you can change the fruit to your taste.  All I can tell you is that I feel better since I started on Thursday. 
xoxoxo
Tracey

Found out what is wrong with me

OK, so I got my blood test results back.  Thyroid, sugar, cholesterol, etc, etc. is all normal.  However, I am critically deficient in vitamin D.  This is much more important than I realized.  Turns out vitamin D turns into a hormone when in the body.  This hormone then functions in much the same way as thyroid hormone.  Vitamin D deficiency can result in fatigue, muscle pain, bone pain, headaches, heart attacks, increased risk of cancer, etc. etc.  Who knew?  A normal range is 40-100.  60 is considered "optimal".  Mine is at 20.  Uh, yeah . . .apparently my body does not want to produce either thyroid or vitamin D hormone.  You can get vitamin D from food butyou cannot actually get enough to produce a healthy level.  The best way to get vitamin D is through daily exposure to the sun---about 10-15 minutes---without sunscreen.  However, even people who get enough sunshine can still be deficient.  So, I am to begin a course of prescription strength vitamin D, once a week for 3 months.  Then I need to check back in with my doctor to determine further course of treatment. 
I have to say I am glad to know (a) what is wrong with me and (b) that it is something that is relatively easy to "fix." I am hoping to be feeling MUCH better soon. 
Sidenote:  my doctor said, and I also did some WebMD and Mayo Clinic research, and found out that vitamin D deficiency is "pandemic" right now.  Doctors don't know why this is happening right now but are recommending everyone take a vitamin D supplement.  It needs to be D3 or chol (something or other---you can Google it).  So, my good deed for today is to recommend everyone go and get some vitamin D.  :)

The body bugg is back online!

Yay!  I finally got a response to my e-mail to Apex and got the upload problem with my Bodybugg fixed. So, tomorrow I start tracking calories and steps.  I know it seems crazy but I am excited about this.  Also, next Thursday, after school, I go back to the doctor to get my blood test results.  I am hoping for a vitamin deficiency.  I know that may sound crazy but if it is just a vitamin deficiency thenthat is something that is easily fixed and I can be up and running again!  (OK, I don't really run---but at least I would have the energy to run if I wanted to!)
Tomorrow's my birthday!!!! I am going to be 40 years old! Woohoo!!! The great ladies that I work with surprised me to day with flowers, cake, lunch and gifts.  It was great--they are a wonderful group of friends.  Tomorrow and Friday the kids at school and I are going to celebrate the number 40 by counting lots of items.  To celebrate I have bought goldfish crackers and Mike and Ikes to count and eat. So the calorie counting is on hold, at least for the next couple of days.  I believe that I should be free to celebrate my new decade and eat cake without guilt. LOL :)

I learned something new today

I took my first lesson on the pottery wheel today.  According to my teacher I did very well--better than most first lessons.  I was AMAZED by how difficult it was!  There is so much to take in and remember.  It is not at all like what you think it will be like when you watch some one else do it.  When you are watching someone throw a pot it looks so easy and fluid.  The other thing that I learned/noticed was that it took a lot of focus and concentration.  Before when I was learning hand  building, I always thought it was kind of odd that the student or two that were working on the wheel didn't talk much or participate in the conversation, now I know why.  1) you are so focused and intent that what you are doing that you don't follow what is being said around you. 2) the wheel does make noise and while it is not loud it is enough to mute the conversation around you.  The one thing that I did seem to learn today that is REALLY important is how to "center".  This means that my clay is centered on the wheel and that the clay is equally proportioned around.  I also learned how to "pull" which is when you open and widen the bowl.  What is still tripping me up is evening and building the sides.  I ended up with three bowls.  1 that I did with my teacher and 2 that I did on my own.  After that I really just practiced centering and trying to form bowls.  Did I mention how hard it was? And, much more physical that I thought!  My back and shoulders are killing me now!  And I know that tomorrow I am REALLY going to feel it.  However, it was soooo satisfying.  I really didn't even care about having a final product, I really just wanted to practice doing it over until I felt like I had mastered each step.  So much fun!!!
On a seperate but related note, I promise to post some pics tomorrow.  I brought home two pieces that I really love and created specifically for my house. And, I want to post pics of some of the stuff from last week.  Mike thinks he is going to pack up my final products and sell them---according to him we don't have room for all this stuff and I "can't have all these things around." HA!! Little does he know.  :)

New recipes: carne guisada and rice pudding

I, LOVE carne guisada, or meat with gravy, for my non-Spanish speaking fans.  Anyway, I've never made it and decided to give it a shot.  I made it in the crock pot (which my husband said was the "white way") but whatever--I wanted the meat to be super tender.  The problem with the crock pot though is that my gravy didn't get near as thick as I wanted it.  So, next time I will probably move the liquid to a regular pan at the end of the cooking time to make the gravy and make sure that it gets hot enough. 

1 large box of beef broth (32 oz)
1 beef shoulder roast, trimmed of all fat and cut into bite size pieces
2 tsp of salt
3 tsp pepper
1 TBSP of onion powder
1 TBSP of garlic powder
1 TBSP of cumin

Trim and dice your meat.  Spray the interior of the crock pot and put the meat in the pot.  Sprinkle all spices over the meat and mix/toss with your hands to season all meat.  Pour broth over meat (this should cover the meat, if you need more liquid to cover the meat, add water and adjust seasoning.)  Cook on high for 5 hours. 
Note at this point I added a cup of water and 4 TBSP of corn starch to thicken the gravy but it just doesn't get hot enough in the crock pot to thicken.  Next time, I will complete the gravy on the stove.  Also, my roast was not large--I would say it was medium size.  I would recommend tasting the broth at about 4 hours and making sure that your spices are to your taste.  You may need to add more of something.  For example:  my husband said I needed more pepper and cumin.  :)  this will be especially true if your roast is large. 

Rice pudding
Had a craving for this so I decided to give it a try since I had leftover steamed rice in the fridge.  All three of the people I live with (LOL) liked it so guess this recipe is a keeper.

1 1/2 C cooked white rice (I actually used some leftover steamed rice)
1 1/2 C skim milk*
2/3 C sugar*
1 beaten egg
1/2 C half and half
1 TBSP butter
1 tsp vanilla
raisins are optional

Put rice, 1 1/2 C milk,and sugar in a pan and cook on medium heat for about 15 minutes until thick and creamy.  Combine egg and half and half.  Add to rice mixture and cook for about 2 minutes.  Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla.  If you want raisins add them in at the beginning of the cooking process

Notes:  The original recipe called for 2 C of whole milk.  I subbed 1 1/2 C skim milk and the half and half.  I thought it still tasted creamy.  Also, instead of sugar I used sugar substitute.  This is the one that I told you I found at HEB.  It is called Smart Sugar and you find it near the sugar substitutes.  It comes in a bag that looks like a 2 lb bag of sugar. 
The kids loved this warm and topped with cinnamon.

Good grief I'm tired!

I've got a doctor's appointment on Monday.  This is my annual routine to get my thyroid and cholesterol tested.  This year though I'm going to see if there is some test to figure out if I am vitamin deficient or something that would make me so stinkin' tired.  Maybe it is just a result of the continuing cough or residual from the bronchitis but I just cannot get going---my get up and go has got up and gone!  Truly I could go back to be and take a nap just a few hours after waking up.

Went to pottery today and had such a satisfying session!  I missed last week---cuz I felt tired and crummy---so I picked up all the pieces I glazed a couple of weeks ago, and they turned out so good!!!!! I really didn't expect to be so please with them because I used colors and combinations that I hadn't worked with before and so I didn't know what the end result would look like.  Today I finished three crosses and large bowl and can't wait to see them next week.  Michael asked what I am going to do with all the pieces I've made.  I told him it didn't matter because the creating it is what is so much fun for me.  The next two major things I am going to learn are using the wheel and sculpting figures.    I'll post pics of the pieces later

Random stuff--answering questions and tying loose ends

Hello everybody!  
I have gotten good feedback on everyone missing new posts when I am a.w.o.l  so I really will work at it.  My goal is to post something everyday, if I'm falling down on the job let me know! :)

So, I've got some questions from my "fans" aka my friends Jenni and Amy.  Jenni--no I have not tried the diet soda cake.  FYI for all of you out there.  Jenni says you get any flavor cake mix, mix in any flavor diet soda and bake.  She swears yellow cake and root beer are great.  I may have to give one of these a try.

Amy--the bread that I picked up the other day was Central Market whole grain mini baguettes.  There were two loaves about 8 inches long and you just had to warm them in the oven for about 10 minutes.  I can't remember for sure but I think 1/2 of one loaf was a serving and it was 140 calories.  I ate mine without butter and didn't miss the butter a bit.  They were really soft and tasty.  Got mine in the frozen bread section at HEB.  I'm sure that was way more info than you wanted or needed but ya' know---I gotta share.  :)

Next, I am working on the diet friendly baked goodies.  I've found a couple of recipes that look promising but I want to try making them before I pass the recipes on, just in case they are gross.  Hoping to work on this project this weekend--Michael has to work and the weather is crummy! So I might as well bake.   Also, and I found this to be really exciting.  I found a sugar like sweetner that doesn't contain sachrin or aspartame and can be measured like sugar.  Also, found this at HEB---I'm going to try it this weekend and then I'll let you know if it is worth purchasing or not. 

I'm sure by now you have noticed I mention HEB alot.  I generally do our grocery shopping at Walmart but have found that they don't carry as many diet, organic, healthy alternative foods.  HEB has a far wider variety----the problem is that I get carried away!  FYI, if anyone is interested, they have Cliff bars on sale this week for $1 each.  I've tried these only twice but they are pretty good as these things go.  I picked up a few yesterday to try out on the days that I don't get lunch but it is too late to eat a full meal. 

MILK---I've been doing some research on this and have switched us to organic.  It costs a little more but after reading about the side effects of the antibiotics, pesticides, etc. that are used I didn't want the kids drinking "regular" milk anymore.  Also, and this applies to me, studies have shown that something in the organic milk actually helps the body dispose of fat and lose weight faster.  Again, HEB is the best place in town for this.  Their Central Market organic milk is $1.50 or more cheaper than the organic milk at Walmart.  

I didn't lose anything this week--was actually 1.5 pounds up but I'm feeling really certain that it's because I have done AWFUL keeping up with drinking all my water every day.  So, I am not stressing about this, now if I don't lose next week I will FREAK OUT!!
OK, that's the post for today!
T

Black bean soup and fruit smoothies

Sorry, I have been a.w.o.l on the blog.  I decided today that I am really going to try and post something everyday. My thought behind this is that I love to read updates on the blogs I follow and I'm always a little disappointed when I check in with them and see that nothing has changed since the last time I was there, or even longer!
So, here's a super yummy recipe.  If you like soup, and beans I think you will love it.  I do!  It is based on a recipe that my friend Misty gave me.  I had to make a few changes to fit what I had available but I loved the result and have had a cup everyday, either with my lunch or before supper to help fill me up. 

3 cans of black beans rinsed and drained
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1//2 green pepper, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1 can of diced tomatoes with juice  (I used the ones that had garlic in them)
1 box (32 oz) of chicken broth
salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cumin to taste 
I also added "Adobo" seasoning   it is a mexican seasoning mix that has garlic, onion, oregano etc.  You can get it with the other spices at your grocery store

Put onions and bell pepper in a large pot and saute about half way through in a little oil.  Pour in everything else and let cook until veggies are tender.  That's it! :)

OK,  I have told you about my love of all things baked.  My mission this weekend it to find recipes for baked goodies that fit into the new healthy eating plan.  I am DYING for cake!!!
In the meantime, I am taking the edge off my sweet cravings with a frozen fruit  and yogurt combo. 

1 package of acai berry pulp (found at grocery store in frozen fruit section.  Abilene folks---HEB has it)
1 small cup of yogurt (I've been using vanilla or strawberry Yoplus)
1 to 2 cups of frozen fruit (I've tried frozen berries, peaches, and pineapple)
fruit juice or milk--just enough so that your blender will combine all this stuff instead of getting stuck :)

Now, this comes out VERY thick.  I eat it with a spoon for breakfast or a snack.  If you want it to be more smoothie like, use thawed (or partially thawed) frozen fruit.

The acai is supposed to give you energy.  I don't know about that though, I still want a nap every day.

Happy, excited and tired! Oh! and cold!

OK, I've told you about the healthy eating plan and I am so excited and pleased and happy and blessed to report that I've lost 7 pounds in my first week.  I know that not every week will yield such a large loss, some weeks may have no loss at all, but I have to say that this was a great reward for the first week.  Especially, since I was feeling discouraged that I had only been able to work out once this week because of the bronchitis.  In fact, I couldn't believe the scale this morning and actually weighed myself twice.  :)
Now, here is my challenge. To keep it up.  I've passed the first week and I need to maintain my new eating plan.  It has been very easy in the past for me to get lax once I start seeing results and then i just end up sabotaging myself.  I also need to start exercising. The doctor told me to take it easy this weekend to get over this durn illness so I am giving myself "off" until Monday.  Then it is ON!! Like Donkey Kong!!! :)
Dinner tonight is going to be spaghetti.  I bought ground chicken to make the meatballs and the whole wheat pasta.  I even found some whole wheat baguettes in the freezer section that  have 4 g of fiber and 140 calories for a serving. Looking forward to it.  No recipe to post though.  I'm using the chicken burger recipe for the meatballs, and I've posted the sauce recipe previously too.  You'll have to search the older posts. 
Love to all!  Stay warm!
T

Insanity

Insanity is repeating the same action/behavior and expecting a different result. It's official--I'm insane.

I have migraines. I have had migraines since I hit puberty. I clearly remember sitting in a dark room and crying because my head hurt so bad. My mother dragged me around Beaumont hospital in El Paso because my head hurt all the time. I took aspirin, tylenol, something EVERY DAY because my head hurt. It wasn't until I graduated FROM COLLEGE and started teaching that a doctor finally said to me "Hey, you've got migraines." Wow, OK now I know. Then he told me that food, hormones, and environmental factors can trigger a migraine.

All right--puberty that explains the onset. So, I take birth control pills "continuously" to control the estrogen levels in my body. This reduces the chance of my having a hormone related migraine.

Environmental factors: not a whole lot I can do here, but I do what I can. I know working in my yard can trigger one, so I always shower as soon as I come in, take an allergy tablet, etc.

FOOD! AGH! The bane of my existence!

Alcohol is a trigger for me. I don't drink. At all. Never, Not a drop. Easy.

Chocolate, peanut butter, dairy, caffeine. all triggers for me----hmmm, you'd think I'd abstain right? This is where the insanity comes in. . .

Nope! I plow right on like some toddler who doesn't realize she is about to crash. Why? Why can I not face that piece of chocolate cake, peanut butter cup, cup of coffee and say "No! you are not worth the suffering that will insue!"

This one (migraine) was caused by two large cups of coffee I drank Sunday afternoon. Didn't even think about having a migraine later! Poured myself that coffee and drank it because I was cold. Now, i could have had some herbal tea, soup, put on a sweater--but the coffee was there, it smelled good and a I drank it---twice. And now I'm suffering. Why? I told you---because I am insane! I know this because a sane person would not willing inflict pain upon themselves.

Now, I'm no sissy. I had both my boys without pain meds. I've had dental surgery and refused to take codeine afterwards. But a migraine can stop me cold. A migraine makes me want to drill a hole in my head, pop my eye out, anything to release the pressure and pain I feel in my head. Given this you would think, that I a reasonably intelligent person, would look at a food item that I KNOW will trigger one of these miserable headaches and say "NO DEMON! Get thee away from me!" But I don't, until now. Here and now, on this board of support and accountability, I am saying to you and all, that I am going to make the healthy choice and STOP being a masochist. I am going to choose to abstain from foods that I know will make me miserable---and I want you to help me. If you see me about to stick chocolate, or some other demon food in my mouth, stop me, pull me back from in front of the bus! Please! Help me help myself!

Now, I'm off to take another migraine tablet. :)

Love to all,

T

What I'm thinking about . . .

OK, I know most of you come here for recipes but the title also promises random thoughts and I am feeling inspired to share some of those.
Starting Jan 1, I, and by proxy my family, embarked on a healthy eating plan.   This is s not a diet.  I hate that word.  It implies deprivation and short term.  We are working on changing the way we eat and how much we move. 
A couple of years ago, I got inspired to join a gym and starting buying us healthier things to eat.  It was great.  We all lost weight, I was sleeping better, feeling better, etc.  The problem:  the gym was expensive so I gave it up with the idea that I would workout at home.  Uh, yeah, that never happened.  so in the two years since I gave up the gym, I have gained/regained 30 pounds and our family eating is HORRIBLE.  We are/were eating very little fruits and veggies.  We were eating tons of junk-----sweets, chips, etc.  In return we have gained weight, move very little and are generally unhealthy. 
Now, you would think that would be motivating enough to get me to start shopping more healthfully for my family and exercising--but it wasn't.  It wasn't even the fact that my "skinny" clothes weren't fitting anymore.  It was seeing myself in a picture that a friend took a few weeks ago.  All I could think was "I look awful!  I've gotten soo fat!"  So I decided that come 2010 I was going to make some changes.
So far, things have gone pretty well.  The family is onboard with the changes to their food choices so far.  And it hasn't yet felt like deprivation.  And I don't want it too.  For me the food thing isn't about eliminating anything but rather about making better choices, eating healthier options and enjoying "bad" foods occasionally. 
Exercise is more difficult for me.  If I had my choice, I would go to the gym around 7:30-8:00 in the morning, workout, then come home to shower and start my day.  Unfortunately, I don't have that freedom in my schedule.  Working out for me in the late afternoon/evening is really hard.  I am tired from being at work, I have dinner to cook, chores to do around the house, the kids are tired and grumpy, etc.  I found yesterday that the best plan for us seems to be to pick Chris up from school and head straight to the gym.  If I can get my workout finished and be home by 5 it feels like it will be doable. 
I am turning 40 years old this year! I really want this year to be the start of a new chapter.  I don't want to enter this new decade dragging the same baggage and hangups behind me.  I have always felt "fat".  I do not remember a time in my life when I did not feel like the chubby girl and I'm sick of that.  Now, I'm married, have two kids, and I'm going to be 40--it's not like I'm planning to run out and pose for Playboy or something but I would like to be able to walk past a window or mirror and not think "Ugh, I look awful!" 
Heck, I'd be pretty satisfied to walk by and think "Hmm, I look OK"
And it isn't about weight.  That is just a number (that no one but me and that insistent nurse in the doctor's office needs to know).  I would be completly satisfied at my current weight if I were fit and firm---which I most definitely am not right now.  I would like to have less of me jiggle and less of my flesh touching other parts of my flesh :)
So, day 5---I'll keep you updated.

Chicken burgers, roasted potatoes and tomato soup

For those of you who don't know, I (and therefore my family) have embarked on a healthy improvements plan. We are trying to make healthy food choices, increasing our consumption of fruits and veggies, and reducing consumption of processed foods. With that in mind, the recipes that I will post from here on out, are going to focus on healthier choices.

Tonight I tried chicken burgers and they were a huge hit with everyone! The kids loved them and already asked when I will make them again. We got a mini slider grill for Christmas and I made the burgers on there which I think made them even better for the kids.  This is my version of the turkey burger patty that I love from Red Robin.

1 pound of ground chicken (if you are in Abilene--HEB is the only place I have found this reliably)
1 green pepper
1/2 onion
12 large leaves of basil
1 tsp of salt
1 tsp of pepper
1/2 c of seasoned bread crumbs

In a food processor, blend the green pepper, onion, basil, salt and pepper until well chopped. (It will look alot like salsa) Put 2-4 tbsp of this mixture in a large bowl. combine with chicken and bread crumbs. If the mixture feels too wet add a little more bread crumbs until you can form into patties. Grill until golden brown.

Roasted potatoes
SUPER easy. Peel and slice potatoes. Drizzle with olive oil, lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Toss well to coat then bake at 400 till tender.

Tomato soup
Use remaining bell pepper/onion mixture. In food processor, finely chop 3 medium carrots and a zuchinni with the bell pepper/onion mixture. Pour mix into a pot. Add a can of fire roasted/garlic tomatoes, 5 C of V8, and 1TBSP of garlic powder. Mix well and heat thru.

Happy Birthday to me!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I know you can't believe it but in 25 days I will turn 40 years old. I know, I know, I look so young and vibrant you just can't believe it is true, but it is. 30 was a tough birthday milestone for me, but I am looking forward to this one. A whole new decade to begin--I'm sure it will be great!