5.22.2012
5.18.2012
bean cake fail.
Before I start this post, I'm sitting here working in t office and it just started pouring those huge rain drops out of the blue with a clear blue sky above. A rain shower that is completely laced with the heat of summer, and it makes me so excited for this summer season that is just getting started. Not excited, thought, that I actually did 2 craft projects today and they're outside probably getting ruined. Oh well.
Last night our good friend ZM was over. He prefers to live a vegetarian lifestyle, and we like vegetables so it worked out well. I've been wanting to make bean cakes for awhile, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to give it a try. After about 25 minutes in the kitchen, I explained it to Zach this way-- we have good news and bad news. The good news is that you like vegetables and we have a lot of those, the bad news is that our bean cakes died. He didn't care. He's pretty cool like that.
I shouldn't say they didn't make it at all-- because they kind of did, just not how Emeril said they should. So I used this recipe that I watched Emeril make on his show while we were on vacation. It was super easy! And this is seriously so healthy! Mine didn't turn out quite right because of eggs. I compiled all my ingredients and had everything going. The last thing I needed to add was 1 egg. I went into the fridge and pulled out the eggs only to find the expiration date was May 5th. I know some people use them, some don't. Some say it's an "expiration date", some a "sell by". I was tempted but ultimately decided not to use them because I didn't want to make a baby and a guy leaving the country for Africa sick. So I googled replacements for eggs and came up with some weird things and some interesting things. Applesauce seemed like it could work with this recipe, so I added 1/4 cup of applesauce. It didn't ruin the flavors or anything, but it didn't hold my bean cakes together like the egg would have.
So when I went to cook them on the skillet, they fell apart.
I hated to throw all of that yummy bean goodness out, so I plopped them on a cookie sheet and baked them at 375 for about 12 minutes.
It worked fine. They weren't crispy like they would have been on the stove, but they were still good. And everyone liked them.
Tommy is not a fan of beans, but he loved these. I think this would be a great meal to get the kids to help with, and one that they'll like to eat, too!
Last night our good friend ZM was over. He prefers to live a vegetarian lifestyle, and we like vegetables so it worked out well. I've been wanting to make bean cakes for awhile, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to give it a try. After about 25 minutes in the kitchen, I explained it to Zach this way-- we have good news and bad news. The good news is that you like vegetables and we have a lot of those, the bad news is that our bean cakes died. He didn't care. He's pretty cool like that.
 |
| The black beans should be mashed up pretty good- that was the longest part of the meal prep. |
I shouldn't say they didn't make it at all-- because they kind of did, just not how Emeril said they should. So I used this recipe that I watched Emeril make on his show while we were on vacation. It was super easy! And this is seriously so healthy! Mine didn't turn out quite right because of eggs. I compiled all my ingredients and had everything going. The last thing I needed to add was 1 egg. I went into the fridge and pulled out the eggs only to find the expiration date was May 5th. I know some people use them, some don't. Some say it's an "expiration date", some a "sell by". I was tempted but ultimately decided not to use them because I didn't want to make a baby and a guy leaving the country for Africa sick. So I googled replacements for eggs and came up with some weird things and some interesting things. Applesauce seemed like it could work with this recipe, so I added 1/4 cup of applesauce. It didn't ruin the flavors or anything, but it didn't hold my bean cakes together like the egg would have.
So when I went to cook them on the skillet, they fell apart.
I hated to throw all of that yummy bean goodness out, so I plopped them on a cookie sheet and baked them at 375 for about 12 minutes.
It worked fine. They weren't crispy like they would have been on the stove, but they were still good. And everyone liked them.
Tommy is not a fan of beans, but he loved these. I think this would be a great meal to get the kids to help with, and one that they'll like to eat, too!
5.17.2012
baby beans.
*Recipes to follow...
5.16.2012
work it out.
I heard some wise words this week. On Twitter. I read some wise words this week. Exercising doesn't cancel out your food choices. I can't remember who said it, or how they said it but that was basically the point. This probably sounds so easy and obvious, but to me it was ground breaking. You see, I rationalize all.the.time.
Well if I work out more I can have more ice cream.
If I worked outside I'm hot, burning more calories, and can have brownie batter by the spoonfuls [yes, this really happens].
I probably burned a lot of calories today doing [insert general statement here that fits for that moment], so I could use some pick me up in the form of sweet and chocolate and plenty of it.
And the biggest one of all...
I will start exercising tomorrow so it's okay for me to eat this tonight.
Looks like I might have some emotional eating issues, too, huh? I think most of us women do. But my point is that exercise is great, and healthy, and we definitely need it, but it doesn't cancel out our food choices.
If I choose healthy foods and exercise, I'm living a healthy lifestyle. If I exercise and choose unhealthy foods, I'm still making unhealthy choices.
Please don't take this as me saying there's never room for sweets or the occasional poor food choice. If you know me, you know I always make room for dessert in my healthy lifestyle. What I am saying is that a lot of us have this notion that one thing [exercise] cancels out another [poor food choices], and it's unhealthy for us to think that way. Exercise and healthy food choices are part of a healthy lifestyle. Enjoy your desserts or your weak spot every once in awhile, but don't think that because you walked/ran/biked/whatever that you get a "Get Out Of Jail Free" card for eating what you want. And I'm talkin' to myself here, too.
these are pictures i found in my files, and you better believe i enjoyed those meals.
Well if I work out more I can have more ice cream.
If I worked outside I'm hot, burning more calories, and can have brownie batter by the spoonfuls [yes, this really happens].
I probably burned a lot of calories today doing [insert general statement here that fits for that moment], so I could use some pick me up in the form of sweet and chocolate and plenty of it.
And the biggest one of all...
I will start exercising tomorrow so it's okay for me to eat this tonight.
Looks like I might have some emotional eating issues, too, huh? I think most of us women do. But my point is that exercise is great, and healthy, and we definitely need it, but it doesn't cancel out our food choices.
If I choose healthy foods and exercise, I'm living a healthy lifestyle. If I exercise and choose unhealthy foods, I'm still making unhealthy choices.
Please don't take this as me saying there's never room for sweets or the occasional poor food choice. If you know me, you know I always make room for dessert in my healthy lifestyle. What I am saying is that a lot of us have this notion that one thing [exercise] cancels out another [poor food choices], and it's unhealthy for us to think that way. Exercise and healthy food choices are part of a healthy lifestyle. Enjoy your desserts or your weak spot every once in awhile, but don't think that because you walked/ran/biked/whatever that you get a "Get Out Of Jail Free" card for eating what you want. And I'm talkin' to myself here, too.
these are pictures i found in my files, and you better believe i enjoyed those meals.
5.13.2012
beach bums.
We're back. We have wireless, which is awesome. Although I do have to admit that it was kind of nice to not "have to" be plugged in all the time. I had excuses for not checking my email, facebook, twitter, blogs. It was kind of a vacation before my vacation. Last week we went to the beach! Tommy had a work conference for a couple of days, so we just made a trip out of it. I don't know if it's because it was our first vacation as a family of 3, or if we really needed it after having our first child/leaving jobs/starting new ones/moving/buying a new house, or if the beach was just that awesome, but it was incredible!
I'm a home-body. I love my home. I love being cozy in my home with my family. I just like to be home, so normally at the end of a vacation I am ready to be home. This was the first time I could remember not wanting to leave somewhere to go home. We flew down to Tampa and then drove to Sand Key Beach in Clearwater, FL. When we flew with Jack in November I was so nervous how he would do, but this time I was so relaxed. This boy loves to fly! He loves the people, loves the windows, loves the sounds and loves climbing back and forth between Tommy and me.
Apparently I don't know how to flip my pictures before I upload them. Sorry about that. He just looked like such a little boy sitting in his own seat on the plane that I had to share!
"Mom, shh, I'm working hard over here." My little business man.
He loved the waves!
And playing in the sand.
Our hotel at sunset.
The Supermoon didn't look so super next the the expanse of the beach. Loved a reminder of God's creation.
Kisses for daddy. [side note: I just noted it looks like a kid's body is just floating. kind of creepy]
Work Work Work. Even on vacation he's busy.
We were enjoying an evening swim and both waving to Daddy.
Breakfast poolside was the way to go for Jack Jack.
When did my baby grow up??
Please tell me another mom has let her child meander his way through the airport pant-less. Someone? It was just one of those days, so pants were not a battle I was willing to take on.
I'm a home-body. I love my home. I love being cozy in my home with my family. I just like to be home, so normally at the end of a vacation I am ready to be home. This was the first time I could remember not wanting to leave somewhere to go home. We flew down to Tampa and then drove to Sand Key Beach in Clearwater, FL. When we flew with Jack in November I was so nervous how he would do, but this time I was so relaxed. This boy loves to fly! He loves the people, loves the windows, loves the sounds and loves climbing back and forth between Tommy and me.
4.29.2012
wire-less.
We suddenly lost our internet connection at home on Wednesday. I feel lost without out, but we'll be back up and running on Wednesday morning-- I hope. See you soon!
4.24.2012
breakfast of champions.
Continuing on in the spirit of healthy dieting/weight loss, let's talk about the importance of breakfast. I already feel like I sound like a commercial. Sorry for that. Seriously breakfast is so important. It kick starts our metabolism, it gets the body going, and keeps us from binging later on. Having balanced meals and snacks is key to successful weight loss-- breakfast is a big part of that.
Jack and I wanted to demonstrate a healthy breakfast. My new favorite thing for breakfast is plain yogurt, and I add in fresh fruit and a little honey to sweeten it. I don't need a lot in the mornings/don't have time to sit and eat, so it's perfect for me. Jack's still going with the old standby-- the classic oatmeal and milk. He wanted me to mention he has fruit, too.
My point with all this is breakfast doesn't have to be a huge meal where you sit and eat for 30 minutes. It can be quick, light if you wish, and healthy! Some mornings I would just have toast. [Would being the operative word here, since I can't use my toaster since it's full of mouse poop. And still sitting on my counter. What's wrong with me?? ] Ok funny story here, Tommy still was having toast, until I informed him the other day that I thought I saw mouse droppings down in there. His response "well, let me go throw up and then I'll throw the toaster out." Bless him.
*there's mouse poop in our toaster because we left most of our stuff in our house in Maryland when we moved to Tennessee. we didn't clean out the cereal cabinet. four months later, mice had done a lot of damage in our kitchen. although i had an incredibly tough first round inspection on EVERY SINGLE ITEM that came from that mouse house, apparently the toaster slipped through the cracks.
Jack and I wanted to demonstrate a healthy breakfast. My new favorite thing for breakfast is plain yogurt, and I add in fresh fruit and a little honey to sweeten it. I don't need a lot in the mornings/don't have time to sit and eat, so it's perfect for me. Jack's still going with the old standby-- the classic oatmeal and milk. He wanted me to mention he has fruit, too.
My point with all this is breakfast doesn't have to be a huge meal where you sit and eat for 30 minutes. It can be quick, light if you wish, and healthy! Some mornings I would just have toast. [Would being the operative word here, since I can't use my toaster since it's full of mouse poop. And still sitting on my counter. What's wrong with me?? ] Ok funny story here, Tommy still was having toast, until I informed him the other day that I thought I saw mouse droppings down in there. His response "well, let me go throw up and then I'll throw the toaster out." Bless him.
*there's mouse poop in our toaster because we left most of our stuff in our house in Maryland when we moved to Tennessee. we didn't clean out the cereal cabinet. four months later, mice had done a lot of damage in our kitchen. although i had an incredibly tough first round inspection on EVERY SINGLE ITEM that came from that mouse house, apparently the toaster slipped through the cracks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)