I love yogurt. well, today I love yogurt. it's one of those foods that I go back and forth on, because sometimes the texture just gets to me. but today I love yogurt.
have you checked out how much sugar is in a little container of yogurt, though? too much, I think. plus, well, you may guess that I don't like all the little plastic containers, either. I have issues. it's well documented.
so, my favorite treat these days starts with plain yogurt. here I can get fairly local (woohoo!) plain yogurt in a big glass (yipee!) jar. add in a spoonful of plum jam and a handful (or sometimes two) of walnuts. oh it's heavenly. and, since I control how much of what goes in, I've cut the sugar by more than half!
lauren's favorite yogurt is plain with a handful of chocolate chips. I know, chocolate chips = sugar. but, again, mama decides how many chips go in. sugar content there reduced by about half, depending on how generous I'm feeling with the chips.
the dog and cats like it plain. well, actually, they like it any way they can get it. good thing it's good for them, too?
by the way, Aubrey and Daddy are camping with girl scouts this weekend, it's yogurt for dinner tonight.
Showing posts with label favorite things. Show all posts
Showing posts with label favorite things. Show all posts
Friday, April 30, 2010
Friday, October 23, 2009
a little of this, a little of that
In an attempt to make up for my lack of blogging....
Andy's encountered some odd sexism lately. Nearly every time he leaves Wal-Mart with our cloth bags, he's asked to show his receipt. Only one time have I been asked, and I had a 'big ticket item' in the cart. Now that he's been shopping there a few months, it doesn't happen every time, but there is still one greeter (an older gentleman) that doesn't seem to be sure of a man using cloth bags without his hippie wife by his side.
~~~
Organic king size sheet sets on clearance for $19.99. woohoo. That made my day yesterday. They are dreamy-soft. And, because it is the little things that make me so happy, the sheets came packaged in a fabric bag that can be added to my collection of cloth produce bags. :-)
~~~
Spinach is my favorite food. Wilted down with onions and bacon and scrambled eggs for breakfast. Or covered in the best dressing in the world*, and tossed with a handful of pecans for lunch. Mmm. I'm eating it every day these days.
~~~
Aubrey's home sick today. The severity of her sickness is questionable, seeing as she's wanting to be all over the place, very chatty and non-sick-like. But, she began sobbing in the middle of the night with stomach pains. She doesn't remember, but I do, so even if she's feeling better now, to have been in that much pain not that long ago, she'll stay home today. thankyouverymuch. At the moment she is reading Garfield to Oscar. Very appropriate.
~~~
I love, love, LOVE the Twilight books. Read them all about a month ago, then re-read Breaking Dawn, and am now starting over again at Twilight. Took me long enough to get to them, because I thought they sounded ridiculous. Really? A book about high schoolers AND vampires??? I'm almost 30. I'm too mature for that. Ha. Turns out I'm not too mature. Not too surprising, actually, seeing as I've been known to leave inappropriate comments on my friends' blogs (completely unrelated to vampires, but incredibly high school-ish!). ;-) And, anyway, they aren't nearly as immature as I imagined them to be.
~~~
The deer thought that my soon-to-be-a-jack-o-lantern pumpkin would be better as a mid-October dinner. I have pictures of the before and after. But my camera cord has gone missing. Again. So picture this: A big, pretty, bright orange pumpkin standing tall and proud by my front step. Now picture a sad orange pumpkin laying on it's side, half eaten. Note to self: keep the pumpkins in the house until October 31st, unless your plan is to feed the deer all month long.
~~~
Speaking of pumpkins, I think the stem is almost as important as the pumpkin. A crooked stem adds so much character.
And, Andy has a recipe for the tastiest pumpkin pie. The secret is that the pumpkin is not pre-baked at all. Just ground up raw (which is quite a job - pumpkins are tough, and not every blender or food processor is up for the job) and then mixed with the appropriate ingredients and THEN baked in the crust. Mmmm. I want pie.
~~~
Lately we've been cooking bone-in chicken in the pressure cooker. It's ugly as can be, but fall-off-the-bone tender. And EASY.
~~~
I'm trying to figure out what to do for my nieces (13 and 15) and nephew (13) for Christmas. I have no clue. Besided money. It'll probably just be money. Not creative enough for me, but oh well.
~~~
I'm so enjoying the church we've found here. It's significantly smaller then our WI congregation, and is 'in transition' - we've got an interim pastor and there are lots of changes afoot. Changes that aren't apparent to me, as a newbie. But apparently big changes. Oh, and as far as big changes and the 'big' church go - the ELCA assembly opens ministry to partnered gay and lesbian lutherans. This makes me happy. Very happy. I think God's church should be welcoming to all. After all, we are all sinners and we all need saving. Rev. Lee M. Miller, II: "I am not saved because I'm a heterosexual. I am saved because of what God has done." Indeed.
Andy's encountered some odd sexism lately. Nearly every time he leaves Wal-Mart with our cloth bags, he's asked to show his receipt. Only one time have I been asked, and I had a 'big ticket item' in the cart. Now that he's been shopping there a few months, it doesn't happen every time, but there is still one greeter (an older gentleman) that doesn't seem to be sure of a man using cloth bags without his hippie wife by his side.
~~~
Organic king size sheet sets on clearance for $19.99. woohoo. That made my day yesterday. They are dreamy-soft. And, because it is the little things that make me so happy, the sheets came packaged in a fabric bag that can be added to my collection of cloth produce bags. :-)
~~~
Spinach is my favorite food. Wilted down with onions and bacon and scrambled eggs for breakfast. Or covered in the best dressing in the world*, and tossed with a handful of pecans for lunch. Mmm. I'm eating it every day these days.
~~~
Aubrey's home sick today. The severity of her sickness is questionable, seeing as she's wanting to be all over the place, very chatty and non-sick-like. But, she began sobbing in the middle of the night with stomach pains. She doesn't remember, but I do, so even if she's feeling better now, to have been in that much pain not that long ago, she'll stay home today. thankyouverymuch. At the moment she is reading Garfield to Oscar. Very appropriate.
~~~
I love, love, LOVE the Twilight books. Read them all about a month ago, then re-read Breaking Dawn, and am now starting over again at Twilight. Took me long enough to get to them, because I thought they sounded ridiculous. Really? A book about high schoolers AND vampires??? I'm almost 30. I'm too mature for that. Ha. Turns out I'm not too mature. Not too surprising, actually, seeing as I've been known to leave inappropriate comments on my friends' blogs (completely unrelated to vampires, but incredibly high school-ish!). ;-) And, anyway, they aren't nearly as immature as I imagined them to be.
~~~
The deer thought that my soon-to-be-a-jack-o-lantern pumpkin would be better as a mid-October dinner. I have pictures of the before and after. But my camera cord has gone missing. Again. So picture this: A big, pretty, bright orange pumpkin standing tall and proud by my front step. Now picture a sad orange pumpkin laying on it's side, half eaten. Note to self: keep the pumpkins in the house until October 31st, unless your plan is to feed the deer all month long.
~~~
Speaking of pumpkins, I think the stem is almost as important as the pumpkin. A crooked stem adds so much character.
And, Andy has a recipe for the tastiest pumpkin pie. The secret is that the pumpkin is not pre-baked at all. Just ground up raw (which is quite a job - pumpkins are tough, and not every blender or food processor is up for the job) and then mixed with the appropriate ingredients and THEN baked in the crust. Mmmm. I want pie.
~~~
Lately we've been cooking bone-in chicken in the pressure cooker. It's ugly as can be, but fall-off-the-bone tender. And EASY.
~~~
I'm trying to figure out what to do for my nieces (13 and 15) and nephew (13) for Christmas. I have no clue. Besided money. It'll probably just be money. Not creative enough for me, but oh well.
~~~
I'm so enjoying the church we've found here. It's significantly smaller then our WI congregation, and is 'in transition' - we've got an interim pastor and there are lots of changes afoot. Changes that aren't apparent to me, as a newbie. But apparently big changes. Oh, and as far as big changes and the 'big' church go - the ELCA assembly opens ministry to partnered gay and lesbian lutherans. This makes me happy. Very happy. I think God's church should be welcoming to all. After all, we are all sinners and we all need saving. Rev. Lee M. Miller, II: "I am not saved because I'm a heterosexual. I am saved because of what God has done." Indeed.
~~~
Since I can't seem to stop talking about food-related things, I'll add that Andy thinks our pantry smells liked chocolate cake. (Aubrey and I think it sometimes smells like dog food, but that's not the point of this story.) Andy gets mad every time he opens the door. Then I laugh at him. Then he cusses at me and demands I make a chocolate cake. "Make me a chocolate cake, Woman!" Then he closes the door and walks away. Then he gets me a snack while Sasha is nursing, and the entire cycle starts over again. I bought him a lava cake yesterday to satisfy his chocolate cake craving, because I am not going to make one (if I do, then he will enjoy a piece and go to work, leaving me with a pan full of cake just screaming at me to enjoy. I'm too much of a softie to ignore things that need me, and when a chocolate cake is begging to be eaten, how can I disregard it's wishes???).
~~~Sweet Garlic Vinegarette (aka the best dressing in the world)
3/4 C extra virgin olive oil
1/4 C maple syrup
1/3 C balsamic vinegar
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1/8 t dried, crushed oregano
Put all ingredients together in cruet (old salsa jar, tupperware... anything with a lid that you will then store the dressing in). Shake well to mix. Store in fridge.
Variations: I've swapped honey for the maple syrup, and apple cider vinegar for the balsamic, while omitting the garlic. It makes it much milder, and is Andy's favorite version.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Ahhhh
I LOVE spring. This weekend I hung clothes on the line (it's like meditation to me), read while sitting outside in the sun, and drank cucumber water. Okay, I can drink cucumber water year round, but not outside. :-) I also did some yard work - not as much as I wanted, but as much as my growing belly would allow.
Saturday I went to my Tai Chi class. It's actually a combination of Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Ed Ju. Anyway, it's a very relaxing hour, and you wouldn't believe how much of a workout breathing can be.
Jaimie's "Congratulations, Your Divorce is Final!" cake was well received. :-) So was the pizza she ordered. Mmmm. Now I want pizza. Maybe I just shouldn't talk about food.
So, because I'm all over the place, this cucumber water I mentioned - just slice a cucumber and put it in a pitcher of water. If you have any lemon, one slice of lemon is a really nice touch, too. I like to keep the pitcher in the fridge - after a few hours you can taste the cucumber, and it's delicious! Still water, but more refreshing. (I put about 1 whole cucumber per gallon of water... adjust to your liking).
Tonight we've got girl scouts, which is always interesting.... I'm really hoping that the troop where we move is a bit more outdoorsy and service oriented. We're pretty tired of junky craft projects week after week. Glitter is cool and all, but girl scouting is so much more then just glitter and cookies! Fingers crossed that tonight I'll be pleasantly surprised. :-)
Oh, and one of the best parts of spring - the chickens are laying again! Not our chickens, I don't have any, but the chickens we buy eggs from - they took the winter off, and are laying again in full force. Mmmm. Farm fresh eggs are the best. Again I'm talking about food. Stop it, Rachel, stop it!
Saturday I went to my Tai Chi class. It's actually a combination of Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Ed Ju. Anyway, it's a very relaxing hour, and you wouldn't believe how much of a workout breathing can be.
Jaimie's "Congratulations, Your Divorce is Final!" cake was well received. :-) So was the pizza she ordered. Mmmm. Now I want pizza. Maybe I just shouldn't talk about food.
So, because I'm all over the place, this cucumber water I mentioned - just slice a cucumber and put it in a pitcher of water. If you have any lemon, one slice of lemon is a really nice touch, too. I like to keep the pitcher in the fridge - after a few hours you can taste the cucumber, and it's delicious! Still water, but more refreshing. (I put about 1 whole cucumber per gallon of water... adjust to your liking).
Tonight we've got girl scouts, which is always interesting.... I'm really hoping that the troop where we move is a bit more outdoorsy and service oriented. We're pretty tired of junky craft projects week after week. Glitter is cool and all, but girl scouting is so much more then just glitter and cookies! Fingers crossed that tonight I'll be pleasantly surprised. :-)
Oh, and one of the best parts of spring - the chickens are laying again! Not our chickens, I don't have any, but the chickens we buy eggs from - they took the winter off, and are laying again in full force. Mmmm. Farm fresh eggs are the best. Again I'm talking about food. Stop it, Rachel, stop it!
Friday, January 16, 2009
One of my favorite things...
Home Run Inn Frozen Pizza
Specifically their "Cheese Plum Tomato."
It's my favorite even when I'm not pregnant, but I'm wanting it everyday lately.
Apparently they have a restaurant (or several) and that's where they started, branching out to frozen pizza later. I have never been to their restaurant (we are pretty much located 12 miles east of BFE as far as cool restaurants are concerned) and if I were to see one I wouldn't go for fear that either (1) I'd be disappointed or (2) I'd love it so much but would never be able to eat there again (ahem, the whole BFE thing).
(And, because I care, it can be found in Colorado,Utah,Texas and Ohio, but not in New Mexico. ;-) )
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Ready, Set,
GO TO BED so I can leave in the morning!
I am done packing. Except for pulling the cold snacks out of the fridge and putting them in the cooler, that is. And, well, I need to load the car, but everything is sitting neatly by the door, ready to go.
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Everyone on my mom's side tries to get together and it's such a good time. My favorite day of the year is the day before Thanksgiving, because at that point we are all together having a good time and there is still the anticipation of the meal.... but all the food we fix together all week long is awesome, so it's more the anticipation of "Thanksgiving dinner" that I look forward to than the actual meal.
Since I'm in the mood and all, I'm thankful for the opportunity to peek into your lives and share mine with you, and I wish you safe travels (even if it's just to the grocery store around the corner) and a peaceful, HAPPY Thanksgiving! I'm going to bed!
Love,
Rachel
I am done packing. Except for pulling the cold snacks out of the fridge and putting them in the cooler, that is. And, well, I need to load the car, but everything is sitting neatly by the door, ready to go.
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Everyone on my mom's side tries to get together and it's such a good time. My favorite day of the year is the day before Thanksgiving, because at that point we are all together having a good time and there is still the anticipation of the meal.... but all the food we fix together all week long is awesome, so it's more the anticipation of "Thanksgiving dinner" that I look forward to than the actual meal.
Since I'm in the mood and all, I'm thankful for the opportunity to peek into your lives and share mine with you, and I wish you safe travels (even if it's just to the grocery store around the corner) and a peaceful, HAPPY Thanksgiving! I'm going to bed!
Love,
Rachel
Thursday, October 30, 2008
A few of my favorite things....
Tea. Hot tea. It's gotta be herbal. Well, actually, it's gotta be Tazo Calm.
I often enjoy other varieties of tea, but my favorite tea by far is Tazo Calm. Subtle, light, refreshing, heavenly. I don't lie. I could drink it all day long. And sometimes I do. It's very similar to Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea, but a bit more grown up. Another of my favorite things lately has been the NPR series of essays This I Believe. Anyone, anyone, can write an essay (I'm not sure how the submission process works) and it may end up in this series. Browsing their essays, I can spend hours clicking from one to another to another. It's amazing and inspiring, the varieties of "voices" featured. Really, though, I love anything on NPR's website these days. Except all the politics. I can't wait for November 6th.
Another of my favorite things is the legal pad I keep sitting on my desk at work. I don't like working, and wish I could be home with my girls, playing, creating, enjoying everyday things. But, since right now I need to work, I have my pad. List after list after list gets written. Things I need to do when I get home, things we want to do on the weekend, craft projects (that, admittedly, wouldn't get done even if I were home) that I think would be so cool, items to pack for our Thanksgiving roadtrip to New Mexico, and, always, groceries.
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