A lot about a little. My life as a S(tay)A(t)H(ome)M(om): June 2011

6/23/2011

What phrase really grates on your nerves?

I want you to go back with me.
Back to the day or night that you first heard the phrase,
"I know, right?"

Now, relax and breathe. In and out. In and out.
Wipe that whole freakin' day from your memory!!!

I want to know who said it first. I want to know if it was a
TV show or what. If it was a show, I want it banned.
If it was just some individual, I want him/her to take a
vow of silence.

Grrrr!!! No please, don't say it again!!!

It's so much worse than "Gag me with a spoon" ever was!!

My hubby told me a long time ago that he really gets irritated when I say,
"My bad!"
I've mostly quit saying that, I think. I'm sure he'll let
me know!

So, what phrase or word is bugging you?

I need advice!!

I know you want to help. I'm sure of it.
So I lay my "problem" at your feet.

I was tired of hoisting up my capris and shorts that were
a bit too big. Even though I told myself to tough it out, I
talked myself into ( this didn't take much talking) buying
a new pair of shorts or capris or SOMETHING.

So there I am at 9 pm. In the store trying on all sorts of shorts of all lengths
and capris and I am mostly frustrated.
I am enjoying picking things out in my "new" size, but I am perplexed about
what happened to pants that came up to a gal's waist.
Where did they go? I couldn't find a single one on the rack.
I'm still in a plus size, this can't be all there is? Mid rise?
Lo rise?

HELLO!!!
Granny panties over here!!! I like my full briefs. I just feel more comfortable.
They don't roll down ( hipsters ) and they don't creep up or in (bikinis and thongs ).

Where is a gal supposed to shop for jeans that will cover said panties? I may be pushing 40, but I'm not ready to dress all frumpy like.

So unless the up and coming trend is for big ol granny panties to be seen at the waistband ( using that term loosely!!) like the thongs were ( are?) I'm going to
need some insight!!
I really don't want to have to change my big bad briefs. :-)

Oh, and I have a belt for those bigger pants, I am just not a fan of wearing it.

In the meantime, I will be wearing longer shirts over my new capris. Apart from the whole Granny Show, I think they look pretty darn good on me!!

So, where should I be shopping to find not so granny, Granny capris?

6/18/2011

Saturday's Menu

Breakfast was a bowl of yummy bran cereal with banana on it while baking this yummy
dessert!

Rhubarb Upside Down Cake

1 pkg yellow cake mix ( dry)
1/3 c oil
3 eggs
1 cup water
4 cup rhubarb chopped
1 cup sugar
1 pt whipping cream

Mix cake mix, water, oil and eggs. Pour in a greased 9 X 13 pan.
Sprinkle rhubarb, then sugar on top. Pour unwhipped cream over the
top of all of this.
Bake at 350° for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours.

The cake will come to the top and the rhubarb and cream will go to the bottom.
Keep it in the pan though. I think it might be too messy to invert from the pan.

And for lunch we are going a bit for the lighter fare.

Turkey and Brie wraps

4 (8-inch) 98%-fat-free flour tortillas (such as Mission)
1/2 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce
4 curly leaf lettuce leaves or what ever lettuce you've got on hand
1/2 pound deli turkey, thinly sliced
4 ounces Brie cheese, sliced

Warm tortillas according to package directions.
Place 1 ounce sliced cheese on tortilla. ( I like to warm that in the micro a bit so it's a teeny bit melted or buy the spreadable brie with no rind and then you don't need to warm it)
Spread 2 tablespoons cranberry sauce.
Top each with a lettuce leaf and 2 ounces sliced turkey .
Roll up tortillas.

Delicious!!!

And for supper?

Slow cooked Chicken and Dumplings

1 Cup chopped onion
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 Tbsp butter
2 cans cream of chicken soup
16 oz bag frozen mixed veggies ( I like California blend)

2 1/4 cup baking mix ( like Bisquick)
2/3 cup milk

Place first 5 ingredients in slow cooker and cook on low 6-7 hours.
Shred with 2 forks inside slow cooker.

Mix Baking mix and milk.
Drop small amounts of dough mix into cooker, cover and cook on high 30 min on HIGH or until dough is no longer raw. I like to take the lid off about 20 min into this so my dumplings aren't "wet" looking

kind of a fatty weekend! Guess I'll be eating salads a lot next week!

Enjoy!

6/07/2011

Today's LineUp

There is one household chore that I tend to put off far too long.
Why? Because I can't stand it!!!

Toilets you say? Nope!
Cleaning the grout? ahhh, you have to clean that?

The winner by a mile is: Ironing!
The big problem? My hubby has a job where he wears dress
shirts almost every single cotton pickin' stinkin' day.
The reason I can go so long between dreaded chore?
He has more clothes than I do.
I'll give a shout out to my MIL for buying him dress shirts
every year at Christmas! Way to go, Kathy!

I know ironing is not difficult or strenuous.
My mom taught me a long time ago how to iron.
Want to know what I learned? If you find the right piece of clothing, it
doesn't need to be ironed!!!

Yes, darling Keith has plenty "wrinkle resistant" shirts, but a bunch that aren't!

After I set up the ironing board today I thought it felt so odd.
Perhaps because I rarely use it or perhaps because my left handed
mom taught a right handed daughter how to iron.
I think I remember her telling me to stand on the other side of the
board. I didn't want to bother with that today, I chose to "rough it".

I only burnt my self twice and almost dropped the iron over the far edge of the board once.

Yes, I picked the hottest day to iron. At 10:30 it's 87° and the high for today is 92°.
I love A/C!!!

But it's done for another ( perhaps not so long ) period of time.

Oh, I just realized. School will be out soon and when Keith goes to work he'll
be able to wear t shirts and shorts. Oh well!
He'll have all sorts of crisp ironed shirts for Fall!!

6/03/2011

Figuring things out

So I've been trying to figure out what to post on my blog.
Not just one post, but trying to figure out the direction I want
my blog to take.
I follow a few blogs and really don't want to "copy" what they are doing. Even unintentionally.

I don't have a lot of exciting or interesting things to say. Not like my friend Jen! I'll always remember her Swoop post!
I tell you, the things that go on in her house!!

So I love being a mom and love all the new things Josh is learning. Maybe not so much that he learned to climb onto the kitchen chair and kept going on to the table.

But is reading that sort of stuff all that interesting?

I have my political views and sometimes I spout, but most times
I just sit back and absorb.

I love to cook. I love to feel productive in the kitchen. Although we've been eating healthier for the last few weeks, I still enjoy making things. Even if they don't taste as wonderful as a juicy hamburger off the grill or a slice of German Chocolate cake.

I've decided to at least dedicate 2 days a week to posting recipes that we've tried and loved or at least liked.

Bonus here is that if I need to look for a recipe, it will be right at my fingertips!

So today is one of my favorites!! And it's healthy too. I hope you enjoy it! I made it today, come on over and try some!

Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients

cooking spray
1 tablespoon oil, olive
2 large leek(s), trimmed and chopped( I use 1 small onion chopped)
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon, ground ( I don't measure)
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, ground ( this either )
1 1/2 pounds squash, butternut, peeled and cubed ( 2 small squash gave me 2# and I went with it)
2 large carrot(s), peeled and grated ( I hate to grate, but my slap chop works wonders!)
3 cup(s) broth, chicken, low-fat, low-sodium (may use vegetable broth)
salt and black pepper, to taste

Preparation

Spray a large stockpot with non-stick cooking spray. Add the oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add the leeks and sauté until translucent and soft, 6-7 minutes. Add the cinnamon and nutmeg, and cook an additional minute to release the flavor of the spices. Add the squash, carrots, and broth, and bring to a boil.

Reduce to a simmer and cook 20-25 minutes longer, until the vegetables are tender. Purée the soup with an immersion blender or in a food processor or blender. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately. ( I LOVE my immersion blender!! )

Serving Size: 2 cups

IBS sufferers take note: This recipe is only suitable for constipation-predominant IBS.

About This Recipe

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 45 mins

Total Time: 55 mins