Five days in and starting to have mood swings. Just feel sad and down and not really sure why. Can't think of anything that would be causing a downer of a day, the sun is shining and its nice out, kiddo is healthy and happy and soon it will be the weekend and football.
Leftovers for breakfast and lunch with pan-fried steaks for dinner. yum!
Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day, I'd love a hunk of milk chocolate at the moment. Must be strong!
Friday, September 9, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
The Liver Experiment
A sad day as we drained the pool and prepped it for storage. It's supposed to be hot the next couple days but then start to cool off and we figured we'd better get drained and allow it to dry out before the fall rains start. I hope they hold off till October but you never know in this area. Makes me sad to see it go-I love summer.
Fried up the liver in onion and bacon for lunch after soaking it in milk for two hours. I think I got it perfect...however...the taste. Texture wise it was very tender and flavorful. I suppose if you like the taste it would have been a perfect dish but both hubby and I had one bite and were gagging. I can't even describe it, hubby said bitter, all could I think of was the sour gut smell you get when cleaning a carcass. Kiddo ate three or four bites but then she started feeding her's to the dog.
So, our attempt at eating guts has come to a screeching halt. I do intend to order sweetbreads the next time we go to the French restaurant in town, give those a shot. Maybe under a trained chef they will be excellent. Otherwise, I don't think we are going to try offal again soon.
Took out the beef leg bones from the bone broth, smashed them with a hammer and returned them to the liquid. Going to give them another day of simmering before leaving the lid off and reducing the liquid down. Hubby commented that the smell of beef stew was beginning to get old, I have to agree. I'll be glad when the bone broth is finished and awaiting consumption, and my house smells like flowers and apples again.
Spent some time in the garden checking things over. The lettuce has bolted and the leaves have become very bitter so I pulled all the plants and prepped the ground for a second planting. The chard is doing great and the tomato bushes are covered in pinkish fruit. Even the squashes are starting to set babies-though with how late it is in the season I have doubts on if they will get ripe before the rains and frosts.
I think hubby was a little afraid of my cooking skills after the liver and grilled up some steaks. I did redeem myself by baking a spaghetti squash and tossing it with sage-cream sauce. It turned out excellent but kiddo didn't like it. Not sure why, she usually loves anything remotely like pasta.
Was really tired by 9pm and crashed early. Tomorrow-finishing the bone broth and marinating some steaks. Yumm!
Fried up the liver in onion and bacon for lunch after soaking it in milk for two hours. I think I got it perfect...however...the taste. Texture wise it was very tender and flavorful. I suppose if you like the taste it would have been a perfect dish but both hubby and I had one bite and were gagging. I can't even describe it, hubby said bitter, all could I think of was the sour gut smell you get when cleaning a carcass. Kiddo ate three or four bites but then she started feeding her's to the dog.
So, our attempt at eating guts has come to a screeching halt. I do intend to order sweetbreads the next time we go to the French restaurant in town, give those a shot. Maybe under a trained chef they will be excellent. Otherwise, I don't think we are going to try offal again soon.
Took out the beef leg bones from the bone broth, smashed them with a hammer and returned them to the liquid. Going to give them another day of simmering before leaving the lid off and reducing the liquid down. Hubby commented that the smell of beef stew was beginning to get old, I have to agree. I'll be glad when the bone broth is finished and awaiting consumption, and my house smells like flowers and apples again.
Spent some time in the garden checking things over. The lettuce has bolted and the leaves have become very bitter so I pulled all the plants and prepped the ground for a second planting. The chard is doing great and the tomato bushes are covered in pinkish fruit. Even the squashes are starting to set babies-though with how late it is in the season I have doubts on if they will get ripe before the rains and frosts.
I think hubby was a little afraid of my cooking skills after the liver and grilled up some steaks. I did redeem myself by baking a spaghetti squash and tossing it with sage-cream sauce. It turned out excellent but kiddo didn't like it. Not sure why, she usually loves anything remotely like pasta.
Was really tired by 9pm and crashed early. Tomorrow-finishing the bone broth and marinating some steaks. Yumm!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Reading Comprehension...Fail
For only getting 4 hours of cruddy sleep today hasn't been too bad. It helps that kiddo is still tired from her beach walk and is content to cuddle and play quietly. Hubby is starting to get over the carb flu and pick up some energy, he slept well last night which is usually a sign that his body is beginning to heal.
My wetsuit came today. I was partly excited, partly depressed when I got the box. I won it off eBay but I made the horrible mistake of confusing the thickness of the material. I didn't realize it till after I won the auction but had half-heartedly hoped that the seller had made a typo. Nope, the listing was correct, I just can't read. Instead of 5mm thickness (which is what I thought it was), its half a mm; .5mm. I dive in cold water, not warm. The suit isn't nearly thick enough-grrrrrr!!! So much for thinking I was getting a great deal on a nearly-new ScubaPro. Oh well, it fits like a dream and I love the design-now to get one in the thicker material.
Breakfast was ham and cheddar rolls for me, cheese omelet for kiddo and sausage for hubby. Lunch was leftovers and dinner...ahhh dinner. I excelled at dinner!!
Pork roast seasoned with salt, garlic, red pepper, herbs and paprika with a drizzle of olive oil and slow-roasted in the oven; steamed brocooli; and chard simmered in cream over konja noodles. The chard dish was a new one for me and turned out quite well-I think a little bacon and more of a crunchy noodle (maybe kelp?) might make it perfect.
Hubby is already commenting on how he has more energy and is feeling great. For getting so little sleep I actually felt good-tired, but alert. And darn proud over how awesome the pork and chard turned out. I love it when a dish works!
My wetsuit came today. I was partly excited, partly depressed when I got the box. I won it off eBay but I made the horrible mistake of confusing the thickness of the material. I didn't realize it till after I won the auction but had half-heartedly hoped that the seller had made a typo. Nope, the listing was correct, I just can't read. Instead of 5mm thickness (which is what I thought it was), its half a mm; .5mm. I dive in cold water, not warm. The suit isn't nearly thick enough-grrrrrr!!! So much for thinking I was getting a great deal on a nearly-new ScubaPro. Oh well, it fits like a dream and I love the design-now to get one in the thicker material.
Breakfast was ham and cheddar rolls for me, cheese omelet for kiddo and sausage for hubby. Lunch was leftovers and dinner...ahhh dinner. I excelled at dinner!!
Pork roast seasoned with salt, garlic, red pepper, herbs and paprika with a drizzle of olive oil and slow-roasted in the oven; steamed brocooli; and chard simmered in cream over konja noodles. The chard dish was a new one for me and turned out quite well-I think a little bacon and more of a crunchy noodle (maybe kelp?) might make it perfect.
Hubby is already commenting on how he has more energy and is feeling great. For getting so little sleep I actually felt good-tired, but alert. And darn proud over how awesome the pork and chard turned out. I love it when a dish works!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Fishing and Beach Walks
An awesome day spent outside-something we really need to do more often. Tossed together a quick breakfast of sauteed onions and peppers in scrambled eggs; packed a lunch and off we went.
Our first stop was at a recreation area. The forest along the road was gorgeous but as we got close to the river there were all these, for lack of a word, hobo camps. The garbage left behind was annoying, as was the rotting mattresses but what was really disgusting was the little piles of human excrement that was everywhere. I couldn't figure out what all the napkins were doing scattered around the side of the trail, till the wind shifted. Then I knew. UGH!! Needless to say, we left.
Our next stop was better but the bank was steep so kiddo didn't have much room to run. Fished for a little bit but only caught big junks of algae. I haven't fished this area much but the water was really low, I'm not sure if there was anything too catch, except for the tiny fishies that nibbled on my toes. Or I didn't have the right lure, or was casting in the right spot, or...
Afterwards we had a picnic with ham and cheese rolls, apples, and all beef hot dogs. Then on to the ocean!
As we got closer to the beach the clouds came in. On the river it had been hot and sunny but on the sand it was cool and breezy. Very much fall weather. We had a blast walking in the sand and kiddo LOVED playing in it. It was the first time we've been to the beach since she started walking and she had a blast running away from us, getting chased down, running away again. I don't think she was actually running away as enjoying having so much space to go.
We dug in the sand and made piles, until she threw some in the air just as a convenient breeze blew it toward me (and the camera). I got a little sidetracked trying to blow all the sand out of the lens, but didn't succeed and now the lens are stuck open. *sigh* After that we decided to walk further down the beach and see what there was to see, finally stopping where the wind had built small, knee-high "dunes".
She liked to slide backwards off them (not sure why) and it was pretty cute to watch her wiggling and laughing. Then I took her down to the surf. She found that amazing! After a couple times of getting her toes wet she started running from the little waves, I just about died laughing. Until she tripped, landed on her face and the wave caught her. It was barely am 1/8th inch tall, but that was enough to soak her front and with that breeze she quickly became an ice cube. Changed her clothes and wrapped her in a blanket and decided to go home.
Stopped at the store and picked up some veggies, then home and dinner, baths and bed. But I couldn't sleep. Finally got out of bed and read for a while, then messed on the computer organizing photos and fiddling with the camera (whose lens is still stuck open at this point)till I got drowsy-3am. Ugh. Woke up at 7am, thought about trying to go back to sleep but knew it wasn't going to happen.
So, day 2 was filled with ups and downs. I hate not getting to sleep, I've had problems with insomnia since I was in college and I always worry it will return. Hopefully it was just the one night. And hopefully I can take the camera apart and fix it, its a rather expensive one and I don't think we can replace it very quickly.
Tomorrow's goal is to find an awesome liver recipe and burn a pork loin (in an interesting and delicious way).
Our first stop was at a recreation area. The forest along the road was gorgeous but as we got close to the river there were all these, for lack of a word, hobo camps. The garbage left behind was annoying, as was the rotting mattresses but what was really disgusting was the little piles of human excrement that was everywhere. I couldn't figure out what all the napkins were doing scattered around the side of the trail, till the wind shifted. Then I knew. UGH!! Needless to say, we left.
Our next stop was better but the bank was steep so kiddo didn't have much room to run. Fished for a little bit but only caught big junks of algae. I haven't fished this area much but the water was really low, I'm not sure if there was anything too catch, except for the tiny fishies that nibbled on my toes. Or I didn't have the right lure, or was casting in the right spot, or...
Afterwards we had a picnic with ham and cheese rolls, apples, and all beef hot dogs. Then on to the ocean!
As we got closer to the beach the clouds came in. On the river it had been hot and sunny but on the sand it was cool and breezy. Very much fall weather. We had a blast walking in the sand and kiddo LOVED playing in it. It was the first time we've been to the beach since she started walking and she had a blast running away from us, getting chased down, running away again. I don't think she was actually running away as enjoying having so much space to go.
We dug in the sand and made piles, until she threw some in the air just as a convenient breeze blew it toward me (and the camera). I got a little sidetracked trying to blow all the sand out of the lens, but didn't succeed and now the lens are stuck open. *sigh* After that we decided to walk further down the beach and see what there was to see, finally stopping where the wind had built small, knee-high "dunes".
She liked to slide backwards off them (not sure why) and it was pretty cute to watch her wiggling and laughing. Then I took her down to the surf. She found that amazing! After a couple times of getting her toes wet she started running from the little waves, I just about died laughing. Until she tripped, landed on her face and the wave caught her. It was barely am 1/8th inch tall, but that was enough to soak her front and with that breeze she quickly became an ice cube. Changed her clothes and wrapped her in a blanket and decided to go home.
Stopped at the store and picked up some veggies, then home and dinner, baths and bed. But I couldn't sleep. Finally got out of bed and read for a while, then messed on the computer organizing photos and fiddling with the camera (whose lens is still stuck open at this point)till I got drowsy-3am. Ugh. Woke up at 7am, thought about trying to go back to sleep but knew it wasn't going to happen.
So, day 2 was filled with ups and downs. I hate not getting to sleep, I've had problems with insomnia since I was in college and I always worry it will return. Hopefully it was just the one night. And hopefully I can take the camera apart and fix it, its a rather expensive one and I don't think we can replace it very quickly.
Tomorrow's goal is to find an awesome liver recipe and burn a pork loin (in an interesting and delicious way).
Monday, September 5, 2011
My house smells like stew!
Back on track after another lapse and have one simple goal for September. One month of primal-no giving in to cravings, no 'oops', none. Hubby is on board and we've promised each other to be more supportive, even if all hell break's loose.
We're already starting out on a good foot. Hubby found beef soup bones for super cheap! Can we say BONE BROTH! Oh yeah! Right now those lovely, marrow-rich femurs are simmering away in the crock pot and the house smell divine.
And I found liver! Much to hubby's chagrin Fred Meyer's had calves liver. I'm thinking liver and bacon wraps. Must somehow figure out a super-yummy way to serve them to replace hubby's horrid memories of gray, nasty guts force-fed to him as a child.
On top of that find, I also found a store-bought salad dressing that is fairly healthy. It does have canola/sunflower oil in it but those are the only bad ingredients. I figure that the oil is far down the (small) list of ingredients that there probably isn't much in it and if it helps me eat more salad then its a good trade.
Hubby has decided he's going to cook once a week, most likely a fish dish since I've always hated fish and (since I hate it) can't cook it worth beans. He is adamant that my hatred comes from poorly cooked trout as a kid. Maybe, or maybe that fish smell just makes me nauseous and all those tiny bones just seem a lot of work. I will quite happily fish all day and let someone else eat what I catch, I'll even gut and scale but actually eating?
He's set on changing my ways though, and I'm quite happy not cooking one night a week to let him try. Tonight he made Parmesan-crusted cod. It was actually decent, though (to me) mushy and the 'crust' didn't really form. I was afraid it would be horribly fishy tasting but it wasn't, the flavor was very delicate. The texture though...well, its the first time he's cooked fish in years so hopefully its just a matter of him perfecting his skills, rather than because its fish and fish is just mushy.
So...on to healthy eating!
We're already starting out on a good foot. Hubby found beef soup bones for super cheap! Can we say BONE BROTH! Oh yeah! Right now those lovely, marrow-rich femurs are simmering away in the crock pot and the house smell divine.
And I found liver! Much to hubby's chagrin Fred Meyer's had calves liver. I'm thinking liver and bacon wraps. Must somehow figure out a super-yummy way to serve them to replace hubby's horrid memories of gray, nasty guts force-fed to him as a child.
On top of that find, I also found a store-bought salad dressing that is fairly healthy. It does have canola/sunflower oil in it but those are the only bad ingredients. I figure that the oil is far down the (small) list of ingredients that there probably isn't much in it and if it helps me eat more salad then its a good trade.
Hubby has decided he's going to cook once a week, most likely a fish dish since I've always hated fish and (since I hate it) can't cook it worth beans. He is adamant that my hatred comes from poorly cooked trout as a kid. Maybe, or maybe that fish smell just makes me nauseous and all those tiny bones just seem a lot of work. I will quite happily fish all day and let someone else eat what I catch, I'll even gut and scale but actually eating?
He's set on changing my ways though, and I'm quite happy not cooking one night a week to let him try. Tonight he made Parmesan-crusted cod. It was actually decent, though (to me) mushy and the 'crust' didn't really form. I was afraid it would be horribly fishy tasting but it wasn't, the flavor was very delicate. The texture though...well, its the first time he's cooked fish in years so hopefully its just a matter of him perfecting his skills, rather than because its fish and fish is just mushy.
So...on to healthy eating!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Carb flu...need Nyquil
Carb flu is kicking my butt. I ache, I'm so tired I could fall asleep as I type. How many more days of this? Just one or two more, I can make it, I think.
Have eaten steak for the past 5 meals-thinking I need to get more veggies or a different protein in somehow. Can't really say there's a veggie calling my name though, so its difficult to just walk out in the kitchen and slap something together. I've ended up staring dully into the fridge at the piles of green, orange, red, and yellow foliage and not having a clue what to do to make them edible. This is when I really wish I had more veggie dishes to fall back on for summer. I have some awesome fall/winter ones (though they usually include a large helping of dairy in some form)but other than green salad, not so much for hot summer months when turning on the oven is a suicidal gesture.
*sigh*
Have eaten steak for the past 5 meals-thinking I need to get more veggies or a different protein in somehow. Can't really say there's a veggie calling my name though, so its difficult to just walk out in the kitchen and slap something together. I've ended up staring dully into the fridge at the piles of green, orange, red, and yellow foliage and not having a clue what to do to make them edible. This is when I really wish I had more veggie dishes to fall back on for summer. I have some awesome fall/winter ones (though they usually include a large helping of dairy in some form)but other than green salad, not so much for hot summer months when turning on the oven is a suicidal gesture.
*sigh*
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
The craziness slowly fades away
It's been over a month since my last post and what a long, painful, scary, heart-breaking month it has been. First, my aunt found she has breast cancer. Its invasive, the doctors already screwed up once and we've all got our fingers crossed but...Then, a friend of mine went into labor (at 46 weeks!! Oh my god!!), her midwives refused to take her to the hospital when she started having trouble, end result: a perfectly healthy baby boy dead. The level of incompetence they showed...I can't get into it-if I start raving now this entire post will be nothing about those two bitches who should be drug into the street and publicly executed.
*deep breath*
All in all its been a horrible month and to say we fell off the wagon would be an understatement. With all the stress and sadness and worry (not to mention eating junk and not exercising) I've gained back 10 pounds and I'm exhausted all the time.
But, as always, the world turns, time passes, and pain starts to dull. We've done what we can for our friends and family and now its time to focus on our own health (before we fall apart, oy vey the migraines lately...ugh!). I have to admit, the first bite of juicy, greasy steak was like heaven. Our garden is starting to burst with ripe veggies and I steamed some fresh chard to go with the steak-hubby was very impressed (and this the man who I had to force to try a bite just a few months ago.) Day 1 and the carb flu is hitting pretty hard for me but I know in a couple days I'm going to be bursting with energy. I need it, kiddo is starting to figure out how to run and I gotta keep up. :)
*deep breath*
All in all its been a horrible month and to say we fell off the wagon would be an understatement. With all the stress and sadness and worry (not to mention eating junk and not exercising) I've gained back 10 pounds and I'm exhausted all the time.
But, as always, the world turns, time passes, and pain starts to dull. We've done what we can for our friends and family and now its time to focus on our own health (before we fall apart, oy vey the migraines lately...ugh!). I have to admit, the first bite of juicy, greasy steak was like heaven. Our garden is starting to burst with ripe veggies and I steamed some fresh chard to go with the steak-hubby was very impressed (and this the man who I had to force to try a bite just a few months ago.) Day 1 and the carb flu is hitting pretty hard for me but I know in a couple days I'm going to be bursting with energy. I need it, kiddo is starting to figure out how to run and I gotta keep up. :)
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