Saturday, February 27, 2010

Now I'm Cooking

I've never been much of a cook. I blame my mom. She's never been much of a cook either. Boxed Kraft Mac N Cheese was a staple in my childhood. Actually, I thank her. Taking away the pressure of making 3 course dinners for my family to sit down to each night is a real blessing. My focus has become the people in my family, rather than the assumed duties of an American mother.

But lately, I've been inspired. (Maybe hearing all about my sister's correspondence cooking class has given me a needed push.)

I actually care about eating healthy, and feeding my kids nutritious food, but too often, Hamburger Helper and frozen pizza got the best of me. We still eat those types of foods, but at least a few times a week I am making meals.

I require that the prep time be minimal for me to attempt it. I just don't have the patience to spend 40 minutes prepping a meal. My kids deserve that time from me after school and I love giving it to them.

Yesterday was a triumph! At noon, I spent 10 minutes putting stew meat, pre-cut by the butcher, in the crock pot, followed by a few veggies I chopped in no time (with my new Chicago Cutlery set), and a few other ingredients. So easy!!!! Six hours later we had an amazing beef stew that had no preservatives and was low in sodium.

I needed some comfort food this week. (Yes, NEEDED.) Mashed potatoes is up there on the list of favorites. So, I did take an extra 30 minutes later in the afternoon to do that. But had I opted to put the potatoes in the stew, I could have eliminated the extra time investment.

Also, earlier in the week, instead of using preservative laden Hamburger Helper, I threw together my own Chili Mac in no time. The kids loved it. (So did my hubby and I.)

If you want to enjoy in my spoils, here are my super easy recipes:

Beef Stew with Creamy Mashed Potatoes


Beef Stew
  • 2 lbs. of Chuck Roast - cut into 1 inches pieces
  • Carrots, Celery, Sweet Onion - you pick how to cut and how much you want
  • 1/3 cup of flour
  • 1 Tbsp. of Worchestershire Sauce
  • 1 1/2 cups Low Sodium Beef Stock
  • 1 tsp. Ground Pepper
  • 2 tsp. Sea Salt (less if using table salt)
  • Use other seasonings if desired. (Consider Bay Leaves and/or Cumin)
Put beef, flour, and seasonings in crock pot. Stir to coat meat. Add remaining ingredients. Stir. Cook on low for 10 hours or high for 5 hours.

Creamy Mashed Potatoes
  • 3-5 lbs. of Potatoes
  • 8 oz. Cream Cheese
  • 16 oz. Sour Cream
  • 4 Tbsp. Butter
  • 1/4 cup Whole Milk (Optional)
  • 2 tsp. Sea Salt
  • 1 tsp. Ground White Pepper
Peel, slice, and boil potatoes in water for 1 hour. Drain. Put all ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Blend with a hand mixer on high speed until creamy.

Serve stew over the mashed potatoes.

Easy Chili Mac

  • 1 Box Cooked Elbow Macaroni (do not overcook the pasta)
  • 1 Jar Ragu Traditional Tomato Sauce
  • 1/2 - 1 lb. Browned Ground Beef (depending on how meaty you want it)
  • 1/2 cup Shredded Cheese
  • 1/4 tsp. Ground Cumin
  • 1/4 tsp. Chili Powder
After meat is browned and pasta is cooked and drained, dump all ingredients into a bowl or pot and stir. Done!

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Missing the Boys

It's the weekend I look forward to for 6 months. The 3rd weekend in February, my husband takes the boys 4 hours up north to a camp filled with winter wonders. They skate and cross country ski, play broom ball, make ice cream from snow, feed horses, sleep in sleeping bags on bunk beds, play Uno all night. I kind of wish I was there, but then I'd miss this solitude.

Yes, this year is a little less about my solitude. I have a baby. Still, the house is so quiet. Instead of 5 people vying for my attention, there is only one sweet, beautiful, innocent baby. You'd think I'd LOVE this weekend. I always look forward to it, thinking I will.

Reality.... I missed those boys as soon as they drove away. I am a home body and so into my family. It's too quiet. Where are my hugs? I'm missing their smiles and excitement. They'll be home in 4 hours and I can't wait.

I always wanted to be a mom. This weekend reminds me how much I love them and cherish them. Can't wait to see you boys!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

The (love) Shack


The Shack is clearly a piece of fiction. I knew going in not to look at it as a theological picture of God, rather one person's artistic interpretation of the Trinity's effect of love and relationship. In that way, it is extremely intriguing and beautiful. It is like a painting that speaks to the soul in ways that logic and words often cannot. It is not an educational experience. It is a journey of the heart. It is a place where reconciliation is introduced in new poetic ways.

In reading The Shack, the reconciliation you explore will depend on your most painful experiences in life. I don't have as much need to reconcile 9/11 or the earthquake in Haiti, for example, as I do the death of my sister 8 years ago, or the absence of a loving father for much of my childhood (due to a premature divorce), or the pain inflicted upon me by the leadership of my church.

The imperfections and pain of relationship cause us to need reconciliation not only with each other, but even more importantly with God. Our own hurt and tragedy is confusing and often seemingly impossible to navigate. We were made in God's image, ready to experience perfect, loving relationships, but the brokenness in this world robs us of it far to frequently.

The Shack opens doors that we may not have known how to open or that they even existed. These doors lead to the first steps of accepting that God is a God of love and acceptance, even when worldly circumstances try to mask this.

Give the book a chance to break down your barriers and let you imagine God for who he really is, and what he really wants to experience with you. Explore the freeing power of forgiveness and love. Visit The (Love) Shack.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Birthday Bliss

It's my birthday. This is a great birthday, and my husband made all the difference. He supervised the entire day and ensured a love-filled, low-stress day. I am simple, so it doesn't take much to make me happy.

The kids had off of school today which was actually wonderful. They cleaned their rooms, played with their baby sister, joked with me. Most notably, with the help of their dad, they made an awesome brunch. We all sat around the table eating my favorite, pancakes (plus much more), in the middle of the day, chatting and listening to one of our favorite alternative bands, Hawk Nelson.

My hubby got me a beautiful card. The house was cleaned. The kids gave me lots of love. When I needed something, everyone was quick to help.

There have been beautiful, don't-need-to-shovel, snow flurries all day.

My Mom and stepdad called early and sang Happy Birthday and told me how much they loved me. Later, my stepmom called. My Dad called. My sister and her boys called. The last call was quite entertaining for me. It was my sister and her fiance´, the latter of whom I implored to finish his (and her) rendition of Happy Birthday with the cha cha cha-type ending, "and many mooooooore," as he did for my son on his birthday. He indulged. I was filled with giddy satisfaction.

Could this day get any better? Not for me. That was all I needed.Just a day filled with the people I love. No presents, no hoopla, no cake. Oh crap! Cake! The kids will never forgive me if I forget. Our grocery store bakery makes the most delicious buttercream cakes with buttercream frosting. Off I go... Cake time!

Thanks family, immediate and extended, for remembering me today. I love you all!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

The Gift of Orchid

I saw my stepdad yesterday. He's about 4 weeks post open-heart surgery and doing very well. Wishing I was in more of a position to help him and take care of him, I bought him a book. You see, my kids and I have been sick for a month and I cannot bring sickness around him. I haven't been able to help. I thought the least I could do it help his sanity by giving him something intriguing to read. He's enjoyed Grisham in the past, so I found a new collection from him of short stories. Just as well since my stepdad's post-surgery attention span is suffering.

So there I was trying to take care of him, love him, when he surprised me with a Valentine's Day gift. My birthday is the day after V-day, but he clarified, this was not for my birthday, it was for Valentine's Day!

I am a novice gardener, but one who reads and studies and dwells in my gardens. I love my flowers. They are absent in winter. It can be very depressing.

He gave my my very first orchid for Valentine's Day. It is a very clear symbol to me of his unwavering support, love and mindfulness of me. It is a very clear representation of his humility, authenticity and generosity.

My stepdad "knows" me. He has peered at my heart and knows how to communicate with it, even though we have never found or made enough time to cultivate this beautiful relationship as much as we should.

I know the orchid won't last forever, but I know it is one gift I will never, ever forget. I am so thankful God put this man in my life. It is a confirmation of God's love, support and mindfulness of me. He knew I needed him.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Eye Cream and Hair Dye

Ah, yes. I am admitting it. I use products to help me maintain my youthful appearance. Well, maybe youthful is a stretch, but I'm told I look younger than I am. Some of this is due to genetics. Both of my parents have always looked younger than they are. But, I give credit to Dove, L'Oreal and Clairol for the rest.

When I was 16, I swore I would never dye my hair. It was easy to proclaim that then. I had long wavy strawberry blond hair that others were envious of. Then, years later, a strange thing happened... a few of those luscious locks turned gray. Once I was thirty, I could no longer say they were a few since there were so many I could no longer count them. By the time I was thirty-five, I was faced with a serious choice. Go gray, or go to the bottle. I chose the latter. I had children in elementary school, I did not see gray hair as an option.

That handles the hair issues, but as I've looked in the mirror, I've been noticing odd creases; like I slept on that part of my chin funny, and woke up with a crease. However, to my horror, that crease doesn't go away as the day progresses!

Last year I had a surprise visit from my high school BFF. As soon as we saw each other, we smiled. I must admit, I immediately noticed that when she smiled, the skin at the corners of her eyes wrinkled. The horror! I knew instantly that this must be the case with my face too. A couple of months later, I invested in L'Oreal Skin Genesis Eye Serum. I was pleased with instant results. I suspect the bottle will have to be pried from my hands once I pass on. That stuff is awesome!

I'll be 38 in less than 2 weeks, but I don't feel it. And thanks to Walgreen's fabulous selection of youth in a bottle, I don't look it either.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Going Green in Little Steps


I feel a responsibility to the planet to do my part to, as the kids sing, "Reduce, Reuse and Recycle." But, my family is not obsessive, just conscious and responsible.

I turn out lights around the house all the time and name the kids "Energy Captains" to help me with this quest. They also help by closing the exterior house door quickly, turning off the water when they brush their teeth, and using clothes and blankets to manipulate their body temperature long before turning up the air-conditioning or heat.

I try to use eco-friendly products, like baking soda and vinegar to clean before going to their chemical replacements. I think it helps that I don't clean too frequently either. It's true, I am not an obsessive cleaner and I like to think the environment is better because of it.

I even switched to reusable canvas bags for groceries. I have only four bags, so sometimes (because I am shopping for six) I need to use the stores supply of paper or plastic. Still, my usage of said items has definitely been reduced!

A little bit at a time we are playing our part, and every little step matters.