What's For Supper Tonight?!

I cannot take credit for this recipe.  I can only take credit for the slicing and dicing and the operation of my crock pot and rice maker.  The rest of it is from kraftcanada.com.  The recipe.  Slow-Cooker Tex-Mex Chicken.

I doubled the recipe because I wanted leftovers for the next couple of days.

Ingredients:
1 lb skinless boneless chicken breasts cut into strips or chunks
2 Tbsp taco seasoning [like Old El Paso]
2 Tbsp flour
1 green pepper cut into chunks
1 red pepper cut into chunks [I only used red peppers because my tummy is sensitive to green]
1-1/2 cups salsa [I used a Pico de Gayo from Costco]
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup Kraft Tex Mex Shredded Cheese

Directions:

1.  Toss chicken with seasoning and flour in slow cookier.
2.  Stir in all ingredients except cheese.
3.  Cook Low 6-8 hours or High 3-4 hours.
4.  Stir before serving.

Serve over hot cooked rice.  I cooked jasmine rice because it's what I had on hand.  I also used my rice cooker.  Yeah.....so basically I didn't cook any of it!  Top everything with Tex Mex Cheese.

It was really really yummy.  Hubby and I agreed that some black beans would be great in this as well.  There is cilantro in the salsa from Costco so I didn't add any, but you most certainly could.  By doubling the recipe, Hubby and I both had healthy portions plus there is enough left over for 3 more meals!

According to Kraft this recipe is 310 calories but when I put it into MyFitnessPal it came out much less so I've got some tweaking in the app to do!

Anyhow, this was delish and you should try it the next time you have to eat.  *grin*

Dream Intervention

I think two people came together in my dream last night to hold an intervention.  Dieting and weight loss was on my mind because I had received my letter to see a dietitian although I thought it was a nutritionist and it turned out to be a workshop and not a one on one consultation so.....I was upset by it.

In my dream, my school director [Boss really] who has recently lost about 35 pounds and my coworker, Andrea, who has never had to diet in her life I am sure, confronted me about my weight.  Well, actually they were making fun of me.  They'd never actually do that.  They are both good people.  I was really upset with them and stormed off to the bathroom where sitting on the counter was a bowl of cereal.  Go figure.  Oh and the whole thing happened at my parents house.

Dreams are weird.

Today I realized that the Andrea in my dream was only a namesake.  I know another Andrea.  A very creative, loving, pet mama who shares many of my same concerns.  THIS is the Andrea in my dream telling me to get in shape.  Stop being a lazy bones.  Get ready for New York!

Shortly after I got my iPod I downloaded the app, MyFitnessPal.  It is also a website.  I never used it.  I downloaded it because I had noticed my Bosses Mom had also lost a significant amount of weight.  She mentioned the app to me and it just happens to be the same one Andrea mentioned to me about a year ago.  Ugh.  What can I say?  I downloaded it and never opened it.  Funny thing.....it's not going to work until you actually use it.

Well, I finally opened it.  OHMYGOD it's cool.  It keeps track of everything.  You can scan store bought foot via bar code.  You can store your own recipes.  It keeps track of exercise and makes suggestions and yes, it even said, smilingriderfan needs inspiration she hasn't logged in for 3 weeks.

ACK!

I don't know yet if I'm going to attend the dietitian workshop.  It coincides with my work schedule.  I've got to figure that part out.  In the meantime, I'm going to log my food and get a good idea of what I'm eating and then next week I'll add some exercise.  

I've got to do something so people stop showing up in my dreams.

Java & The Human Bean

We usually buy Kirkland Brand coffee from Costco.  It always tastes good.  The last while I've gotten hooked on adding creamers for flavouring.  I know they are calorie rich and full of sugar and fat, but man, they make a cup of coffee taste good.  This morning I had the thought, "If I had my own coffee company I'd make coffee sweet already.....so no one has to add anything."  Why hasn't anyone thought of that?

My coffee shop would be called The Human Bean.  It would be created with real people in mind.....you know, the human kind who don't care about fancy names.  There wouldn't be any tall, grande or vente in my shop.  Nope, just good old small, medium, large and the give-me-all -the-coffee-you have jumbo size.

The cups would be real insulated cups too with non-spill lids.  There's be no need for fancy cuffs or double cupping.  Everyone would enjoy the lids because it wouldn't mess that white blouse you worked so hard ironing for the job interview only to stop and drip coffee down the front.  Ugh.  Right?!

I'd have blends like Wide Awake,  Intravenous,  The Morning After, I've Got Company, Heading to Bed [decaf of course], Working Late, First Date, Save Me from My Kids [which may or may not have a shot of Vodka added] and PMS.  Although PMS might just be hot chocolate with a coffee bean floating on top.

There would be cold drinks as well.  They'd have titles like Lordy I'm Hot, Chillaxin' and Sitting in the Shade.

This wouldn't be the type of coffee shop to sell frou-frou types of baking.  Good old fashioned cookies and squares is what I'd sell.  Nanaimo Bars, Matrimonial Squares, Rice Crispy Treats and real cookies that were made for dipping like Ginger Snaps.

Yup.  There'd be no messing around at the Human Bean.

The staff would be friendly and helpful.  We'd encourage you to sit and visit but if you'd rather sit and do homework.....you might just want to continue on your way.  It would be comfortable but not that comfortable.  We'd play real music on the sound system, but we wouldn't try to peddle you the latest cd.  We'd have it tuned in softly so you could carry on a decent conversation without yelling and straining your voice.

Alas, it is not meant to be.  When I googled the name, someone else has already taken it made it organic and fair trade.  Meh. I guess I'll settle for my International Chocolate Mint creamer after all.

My Mommy's Punkin Muffin Recipe

For as long as I can remember my Mom has been baking this recipe.  I enjoy them all year long and it's my favourite way to consume pumpkin.....not being a pumpkin pie connoisseur.  They are great any time of the day and it makes a huge batch.

Ingredients

4 Eggs
2 Cups White Sugar
1-1/2 Cups Canola Oil\
1-14oz can of Pumpkin [like Pumpkin Pie filling]
3 Cups Flour
2 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
2 tsp Baking Powder
2 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Salt
2 cups of Raisins

* I did not have Cinnamon on hand this go around and I used Pumpkin Pie spice instead and it works just as well. *

Procedure

1.  Beat eggs with an electric mixer.
2.  Add sugar, oil and pumpkin.
3.  Mix.
4.  Add the dry ingredients and raisins.
5.  Mix.

Scoop into lined muffin tins.

Bake at 400*F for 15 minutes.

This recipe makes 2 dozen large muffins.

A Venting Blog

I'm tired.

I'm tired of feeling sick.  I'm tired of being sick.  I'm tired of aches and pains and things I can't even describe.  I'm tired of not being able to talk to anyone about them.  I'm tired of keeping my feelings inside.  I'm tired of people wanting things and not working for them.  I'm tired of worrying about my health.  I'm tired of worrying about my dog.  I'm tired of not getting support.  I'm tired of feeling alone.  I'm tired of being over weight and even more tired about talking about it.  I'm tired of having to think about what I eat.  I'm tired of having to do all the cleaning.  I'm tired of having to do all the cleaning again and again.  I'm tired of socks on the floor.  I'm tired of asking to take the garbage out. I'm tired of spending evenings alone.  I'm tired of tomatoes.  I'm tired of people inviting themselves into my space.  I'm tired of people taking me for granted.  I'm tired of being the one to suck it up.  I'm tired of being the nice one.  I'm tired of not being special.  I'm tired of being responsible.  I'm tired of not being about to cut loose.  I'm tired of snoring.  I'm tired of not being able to give these things up.....of not letting go.  I'm tired of praying and not praying.  I'm tired of having to think of others before myself.  I'm tired of not being me.  I'm tired of not having time.  I'm tired of a routine that doesn't work.  I'm tired of trying to find a routine that does work.  

I'm just so plain freaking tired.

F O R T Y

It's only a number.

Forty is the new twenty.

You're only as old as you feel.

Except lately I've been feeling like I'm falling apart.  I have the hypothyroidism to deal with.  I swore I wasn't going to go into my forties weighing as much as I do, but thanks to this little diagnosis my wishes and efforts just didn't work out the way I wanted.  I tweaked something in my back a month ago and now the pain comes and goes.  I have tendinitis which gets aggravated from random work...anything from housework to gardening.  Oh yeah, and then there's the sun allergy which prevents me from enjoying the outdoors.  I worry about everything.  I worry that worrying about things draws things to me.  And now I have convinced myself I have reached the age to which "breast health" is a bigger issue.

I cried on Hubby's shoulder tonight.  I sobbed and even then I couldn't let everything go.  He reminded me that there are plenty of people in worse situations than me.  I know that's true.  

I think being sick this week just messed with my head.  I was lonely and sick.

*shrugs*

This is not how I wanted to remember turning 40.

Do you remember two years ago?  I celebrated my birthday in the Minor Emergency Clinic.  I had an allergic reaction to something unknown and was covered in hives.

Good times.

LOL

A memorable birthday from my childhood is my 10th birthday.  I was able to sign out a ukulele from our school music class for the weekend.  This was terribly exciting to me.  It was also one of the last times I remember both Grandma and Grandpa Dean being there for my birthday.  They gave me a 10 speed orange bicycle.....you know, the kind with the curvy handle bars.

Last Saturday, my In Law's hosted a family barbecue.  We had hamburgers, coleslaw, cucumber salad, tomato salad and baked beans.  We sat in the yard in lawn chairs while different people ribbed me about turning forty.  When the weather cooled off we went inside.  There was a chocolate layer cake and a chorus of Happy Birthday.  I told them I was glad they didn't put candles on the cake because it would burn the house down!  Everyone laughed.  I received a gift of a fuzzy white blanket and a new set of drinking glasses which we desperately needed but had already bought for ourselves.  It was fun.  I felt appreciated by people who don't usually show those types of emotions.

Hubby tells me that my present might arrive late.  All I know is that it's arriving from Amazon.  We have reservations at an Italian restaurant for Saturday 5pm.  Il Salici boasts authentic Italian cuisine.  

I have it on good authority that they have cannoli!!!  Birthday Cannoli.  Happy Birthday to me!

This Blog has Been Dog-Jacked

Brandy approx. February 2000

Hi!  My name is Brandy~puppy the Super Dog.  I was born on November 11th, 1999.  In Canada, November 11th is Remembrance Day.  Dad calls it Novembrance Day.  Mom wanted to call me Poppy but Dad protested and said that was a silly name so instead I got named Brandy because when my fur coat grows out it turns a Brandy colour.

I've had a ruff year.  Last year I had throat surgery for Laryngeal Paralysis.  My ears are always stinky and itchy.  And in July I got an intestinal virus.  Mom worries about me all the time.  She doesn't like it that Dad doesn't worry enough.

Today I got to go for a car ride to the Central Animal Hospital.  I thought maybe we were going to the groomer but knew something was up when the car didn't turn the right way.  I got a little worried.  But then when we got to the doctors there was a black lab in the waiting room and I forgot about being worried.

There's weren't any cats there today.  Cats are my mortal enemy.

Dr. Powell put me on a table.  I had trouble standing because my paws are really furry.  I almost fell off once.  Dr. Powell looked at my eyes, ears and felt my tummy.  Then he tested the moisture in my eyes by putting these paper strips in my eyes.

I didn't like that.  I retaliated by pooping on his floor.

Dr. Powell says I have an ear infection.  I got medicine and ear drops.  He told Mom to clean my eyes with Saline like she uses to clean her contacts and recommended some eye drops that she can buy at Shoppers Drug Mart.  Dr. Powell said I'm in good health and can expect to live until I'm 17!

I think I really lucked out.  Dr. Powell said not to clean my ears!  HURRAY!  *wags tail*

We have to go back next Friday on Mom's Birthday Eve for a check up.

When we got home Mom gave me the medicine in a piece of bread.  Then she squirted the drops in my ears.

I didn't like that.  I retaliated by laying in the middle of the backyard until Mom learned her lesson.

That cookie sure did taste good when I came inside!  *wags tail* 

A baby picture for Auntie Andrea.  About 10 weeks old.