I'm feeling much better. My life is returning to normal and I feel that I'm putting it behind me. I've told people what happened. It feels good to not deny my child's existence or hide what happened. I don't want to ever be dishonest about my experience, but I can't dwell on things that I can't change. I take courage, knowledge and sweet memories into the future to aid not only myself but anyone else who needs a shoulder or advice in this situation.
I'm taking this time off to focus on me, my friends and my family and it feels good. I think I will be in a better place next time (there WILL be a next time, so stay tuned). I'm looking forward to getting an all clear from my Dr. now that I've stopped bleeding. I'm hoping he says I'm progressing and I don't have to wait a full three cycles. It would be nice to be on track in January. New year, New Start.
We shall know Next Monday. SQUEE. So until then, I'm enjoying the almost painfree time, the renewed energy, and the happyness that has returned.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Chicken Salad
I'm a fan of healthy eating. I'm also a fan of budgets, to-do lists, and conservation. So when I can plan menu's that use leftover ingredients I am one happy girl. My favorite thing: WHOLE CHICKEN. Do not be scared of the whole chicken. You can grab a few during a sale at the grocery store for 2-3.00 a piece. A WHOLE Chicken for less than 3 dollars. That's about four meals people. You can pop a whole chicken directly in the freezer to use for later. So simple to fix. Once you do it, you will kick yourself for not using whole chicken ALL the time.
I know some of you health nuts out there will never survive without your lean, skinless, boneless Outrageously priced cutlets but really, you know where that comes from right? A WHOLE CHICKEN. Can you imagine little boneless, skinless creatures rolling around in the dirt on a farm? ::giggles::
After rinsing and patting dry, throw a whole chicken in the crock pot (you don't have to remove the neck and innards if you are squeamish about sticking your hand in the cavities) on top of a bed of course chopped onion. Add some salt and pepper, parsley, and rosemary. Sprinkly with lemon juice and pour hot water in to cover chicken. Set the crockpot on low for 8-10 hours and off you go.
When done, dump the whole thing through a large strainer over a bowl. This seperates the good flavored broth from the chicken. Let the chicken drain and set aside. Pour your broth into multiple containers (2 cup measurements are good) and freeze for future recipes (soups, stews, stuffings, etc.)The chicken will fall apart. Literally. Just pick out your meat pieces and discard the onion, skin and bones. Now you have perfectly cooked chicken to make stews, casseroles, sandwhiches, etc from. One recipe to try:
Chicken Salad
Ingredients:
Chicken pieces from cooked chicken (both light and dark meat but more light)
Celery (2 stalks)
small-medium Onion
1 tsp celery salt
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
1 tsp dried Rosemary
1 tbs dried Parsley
In a food processor, coursely chop one small-medium onion and two stalks of celery. Add your chicken pieces and course chop til small chuncks of veggies and meat but don't mince it. Add salt and pepper to taste, a dash of parsley and rosemary. Add Mayonaise until creamy. SIMPLE, perfect and SO delicious.
I like to serve it on warm dinner rolls with green leaf lettuce and a side of fresh cut fruit. Makes a wonderful light lunch or dinner and is great for parties.
I know some of you health nuts out there will never survive without your lean, skinless, boneless Outrageously priced cutlets but really, you know where that comes from right? A WHOLE CHICKEN. Can you imagine little boneless, skinless creatures rolling around in the dirt on a farm? ::giggles::
After rinsing and patting dry, throw a whole chicken in the crock pot (you don't have to remove the neck and innards if you are squeamish about sticking your hand in the cavities) on top of a bed of course chopped onion. Add some salt and pepper, parsley, and rosemary. Sprinkly with lemon juice and pour hot water in to cover chicken. Set the crockpot on low for 8-10 hours and off you go.
When done, dump the whole thing through a large strainer over a bowl. This seperates the good flavored broth from the chicken. Let the chicken drain and set aside. Pour your broth into multiple containers (2 cup measurements are good) and freeze for future recipes (soups, stews, stuffings, etc.)The chicken will fall apart. Literally. Just pick out your meat pieces and discard the onion, skin and bones. Now you have perfectly cooked chicken to make stews, casseroles, sandwhiches, etc from. One recipe to try:
Chicken Salad
Ingredients:
Chicken pieces from cooked chicken (both light and dark meat but more light)
Celery (2 stalks)
small-medium Onion
1 tsp celery salt
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
1 tsp dried Rosemary
1 tbs dried Parsley
In a food processor, coursely chop one small-medium onion and two stalks of celery. Add your chicken pieces and course chop til small chuncks of veggies and meat but don't mince it. Add salt and pepper to taste, a dash of parsley and rosemary. Add Mayonaise until creamy. SIMPLE, perfect and SO delicious.
I like to serve it on warm dinner rolls with green leaf lettuce and a side of fresh cut fruit. Makes a wonderful light lunch or dinner and is great for parties.
Maple Brown Sugar Cookies
After a very stressful evening, I jumped into my kitchen to experiment with some new recipes I'm toying with. I want a variety of cookies in my Holiday Tins this year and after much taste testing by my co-workers (such a hard life they lead around me) I think it is unanimous that this cookie should make it into the line-up. ENJOY!
Maple Brown Sugar Cookies
2 cups flour ( I use Self Rising which alleviates the need for the next two ingredients)
1 1/2 teaspoons bakingpowder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons real maple syrup
1 egg
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoonful of cinnamon
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Stir together the dry ingredients and set aside. Sitr together the 2 tablespoons cinnamon, and 1/2 cup brown sugar and set aside.
Cream the butter and shortening. Add the sugar and the syrup and beat until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat well. Mix in the dry ingredients.
Roll into 1" balls and roll the balls in the brown sugar/ cinnamon mixture. Place on greased baking sheet. Bake for approx. 10-12 minutes. Cookies should soft (almost underdone) when you take them out to give them a nice crisp outside and slightly chewy inside. Makes about 30 cookies.
Maple Brown Sugar Cookies
2 cups flour ( I use Self Rising which alleviates the need for the next two ingredients)
1 1/2 teaspoons bakingpowder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons real maple syrup
1 egg
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoonful of cinnamon
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Stir together the dry ingredients and set aside. Sitr together the 2 tablespoons cinnamon, and 1/2 cup brown sugar and set aside.
Cream the butter and shortening. Add the sugar and the syrup and beat until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat well. Mix in the dry ingredients.
Roll into 1" balls and roll the balls in the brown sugar/ cinnamon mixture. Place on greased baking sheet. Bake for approx. 10-12 minutes. Cookies should soft (almost underdone) when you take them out to give them a nice crisp outside and slightly chewy inside. Makes about 30 cookies.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Up This Week
I'm going to make once again the Sweet Potato Upside Down Cake to perfect the recipe. I'm also going to try a Pound Cake Recipe for Brandi's Birthday and Cranberry Muffins, Maple Brown Sugar Cookies, Pumpkin Nut Cookies. These items, once perfected, will be added to my available menu for purchase.
I'm currently obsessed with anything FALL feeling or Thanksgiving Related. I'm cooking an entire Thanksgiving Feast for my In-laws this year. I'm very excited to bring out a few favorite recipes and try a few new ones. So if you can't find me browsing the web for recipes, my butt is probably parked in front of the TV glued to the Food Network.
It has long been a passion of mine to make a living from cooking/baking and/or gardening. I've never been quite sure HOW I wanted to do that though: Writing Cookbooks/blogging, a Show on Foodnetwork, bakery or small catering business. I just want to feed people and be in my kitchen as much as possible. For now, I'm satisfied playing with recipes, blogging and feeding friends. Will it be more one day? I hope so. Until then, sit back, relax and enjoy my triumphs, my catastrophe's and my unsolicited opinions and reviews!
I'm currently obsessed with anything FALL feeling or Thanksgiving Related. I'm cooking an entire Thanksgiving Feast for my In-laws this year. I'm very excited to bring out a few favorite recipes and try a few new ones. So if you can't find me browsing the web for recipes, my butt is probably parked in front of the TV glued to the Food Network.
It has long been a passion of mine to make a living from cooking/baking and/or gardening. I've never been quite sure HOW I wanted to do that though: Writing Cookbooks/blogging, a Show on Foodnetwork, bakery or small catering business. I just want to feed people and be in my kitchen as much as possible. For now, I'm satisfied playing with recipes, blogging and feeding friends. Will it be more one day? I hope so. Until then, sit back, relax and enjoy my triumphs, my catastrophe's and my unsolicited opinions and reviews!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Big Changes
For the next few days, this blog will be undergoing renovation. I have decided to streamline and expand topics to encompass more of my domestic interests and provide my readers with more variety. Please bare with me as we change it up a bit because I am super excited to bring you the new Garden Gourmet.
The Organization Fairy Abducted Me
This new me that has been on a rampage the past several days, while quite reminiscent of the me from before TTC obsession, is quite accomplished and full of big dreams. It's amazing what one can accomplish with a clear plan, a To-Do List, and a bit of energy.
It feels so good to just BE again. An enforced break was not in the plans but in a way it is so freeing. I can focus on being the loving, clean freak of a wife that my husband married. No charts and pills, and timed sex (though any sex would be appreciated by him right about now), or special lubes. Just me and my plans and dreams that are not hyperfocused around my body. It's like I regained a friend. I was a pretty cool anal chick at one time with a kickass organized house and fresh baked goods always on the counter. I had friends. I had a full social calendar. I FOUND ME AGAIN in the past few days.
That ME took over MY life and has reorganized it. I have a Daily To-Do List that can not possibly be accomplished in a 24 hour period and wears me out to no end. I atleast try though and it feels amazing. Tomorrow I return to work, to routine, to full life (with pay). Today, I'm going to accomplish as many tasks as possible. I've already frozen the leftover chili, put a whole chicken with seasoning and onion in the crockpot, started laundry and packed up some Halloween Decorations, halfway cleaned out my stationary drawer and ofcourse written this blog. It's not even 8am yet.
My focus for now is taking the next three months to get back into a healthy exercise routine and drop approx. 20lbs, getting back to focusing on my baking/cooking as well as the corresponding blog (I hope you will all join me there at Garden Gourmet), regorganize my house and get myself back on track with living.
It feels so good to just BE again. An enforced break was not in the plans but in a way it is so freeing. I can focus on being the loving, clean freak of a wife that my husband married. No charts and pills, and timed sex (though any sex would be appreciated by him right about now), or special lubes. Just me and my plans and dreams that are not hyperfocused around my body. It's like I regained a friend. I was a pretty cool anal chick at one time with a kickass organized house and fresh baked goods always on the counter. I had friends. I had a full social calendar. I FOUND ME AGAIN in the past few days.
That ME took over MY life and has reorganized it. I have a Daily To-Do List that can not possibly be accomplished in a 24 hour period and wears me out to no end. I atleast try though and it feels amazing. Tomorrow I return to work, to routine, to full life (with pay). Today, I'm going to accomplish as many tasks as possible. I've already frozen the leftover chili, put a whole chicken with seasoning and onion in the crockpot, started laundry and packed up some Halloween Decorations, halfway cleaned out my stationary drawer and ofcourse written this blog. It's not even 8am yet.
My focus for now is taking the next three months to get back into a healthy exercise routine and drop approx. 20lbs, getting back to focusing on my baking/cooking as well as the corresponding blog (I hope you will all join me there at Garden Gourmet), regorganize my house and get myself back on track with living.
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