Tonight I was making raviolis from scratch, using ricotta & won ton wrappers.
DISASTER AND CHAOS!! The raviolis looked so beautiful going into the pot. They were perfect. I even crimped the edges with a fork. They all fell apart as soon as I started stiring them. ARGH! I'm not even sure there's any left in tact now that the tomatoes and sauce is in.
Oh, but that's not all. I'm also making garlic & herb bread from scratch.
My dough was perfect the whole way through. Lovely little ball. Well, I'm obviously doing something wrong with my breads, because this is the 2nd batch that came out like melted MARSHMALLOWS!
I turned it out on to the counter, and it just came out in a stringy, goopy mess. That's not it, either. I started trying to form balls, and the dough stuck to my hands. I looked like the swamp creature! I couldn't get it off. I didn't know what to do! I had to wash my hands and waste half the batch to get it off. When my hands were clean, I threw a TON of flower on to the counter and took a deep breath. I refused to let this beat me! It finally cooperated and I was able to form 3 small loaves, and several bread sticks.
I put them in the oven, turned around, and realized I completely forgot to glaze them with olive oil. Quickly, I tried to hunt down the lone hot pad we own that Grace took off with, and grabbed the dough from the oven, glazed them, and put them back in.
*Big huff*
Mind you, I'm not beating myself up. I just needed to vent cuz it frustrated me.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Adventures in Cooking!
There's something about making more complex bread things from scratch that gives one a sense of real accomplishment. Sunday night I made some delicious dinner rolls from scratch, and last night... last night we ventured into the world of BAGELS!
After forming into a neat dough ball in my bread machine, the dough eerily became soup-like. I held my breath and hoped it would be okay, reminding myself how tasty the uncooked dough was.
The machine beeped at me, and I turned out the dough... or tried to. It came out like a giant, ooey-gooey sienna marshmallow! Stringy and partly cooked. Like mozarella clinging to your lips from a slice of za 2 feet away in your hand. I persevered and rolled it into flour. Andy helped me form them into doughnut looking objects. One by one I placed them in a pot of boiling water and waited 30 seconds, then flipped them, watching them float to the top, and waited another 30 seconds. I turned each one on to a pan and put them in the oven.
They're cooking now. Andy just commented how good they smell.
It's so hard not to open the oven & check on these bizarre rolly-polies!
Finally they're done. Andy & I split one.
I bite in, then cry out "I'M A DOMESTIC GODDESS!!"
These are better than the store. Gosh, that's another $10/month we'll be saving.
Andy thinks they're almost as good as the store, but doesn't like the golden raisins I used. Noted.
To further our adventures in cooking, I'm making Pork A L'Orange tonight for dinner. I didn't realize it takes such a long time. I also accidentally skipped a step & added liquid to the rice too soon. The rice was supposed to brown in the critter drippings, and then you add orange juice & water. After that comes to a boil, you toss in 1/2 a cup of apples & 1/2 a cup of raisins. I used the same golden raisins that went into the bagels. They are a little spicy. Kinda fun!
When I turned it out into a baking dish, it smelled AMAZING. I wanted to eat it right then and there. I put it in the oven, only to discover you're supposed to cover it first. DOH! Grab dish out of oven. Ask hubby to put tinfoil on it for me, as I tend to be really accident prone around hot things. Put dish back into oven and reset timer. Now we have to wait 40 mins. Yargh. I'm used to eating at 6, and we won't eat until 7.
I bet it will be worth the wait!
Haven't had the opportunity to workout today, and I really want to go to the rec center, which we recently got year round passes for. I'm trying to decide whether to hit the track there tomorrow or the treadmill. I guess it will depend on how Grace feels since she's had a bout with the sniffles.
Tomorrow's adventure: Slow cooker shredded chicken taco salad.
After forming into a neat dough ball in my bread machine, the dough eerily became soup-like. I held my breath and hoped it would be okay, reminding myself how tasty the uncooked dough was.
The machine beeped at me, and I turned out the dough... or tried to. It came out like a giant, ooey-gooey sienna marshmallow! Stringy and partly cooked. Like mozarella clinging to your lips from a slice of za 2 feet away in your hand. I persevered and rolled it into flour. Andy helped me form them into doughnut looking objects. One by one I placed them in a pot of boiling water and waited 30 seconds, then flipped them, watching them float to the top, and waited another 30 seconds. I turned each one on to a pan and put them in the oven.
They're cooking now. Andy just commented how good they smell.
It's so hard not to open the oven & check on these bizarre rolly-polies!
Finally they're done. Andy & I split one.
I bite in, then cry out "I'M A DOMESTIC GODDESS!!"
These are better than the store. Gosh, that's another $10/month we'll be saving.
Andy thinks they're almost as good as the store, but doesn't like the golden raisins I used. Noted.
To further our adventures in cooking, I'm making Pork A L'Orange tonight for dinner. I didn't realize it takes such a long time. I also accidentally skipped a step & added liquid to the rice too soon. The rice was supposed to brown in the critter drippings, and then you add orange juice & water. After that comes to a boil, you toss in 1/2 a cup of apples & 1/2 a cup of raisins. I used the same golden raisins that went into the bagels. They are a little spicy. Kinda fun!
When I turned it out into a baking dish, it smelled AMAZING. I wanted to eat it right then and there. I put it in the oven, only to discover you're supposed to cover it first. DOH! Grab dish out of oven. Ask hubby to put tinfoil on it for me, as I tend to be really accident prone around hot things. Put dish back into oven and reset timer. Now we have to wait 40 mins. Yargh. I'm used to eating at 6, and we won't eat until 7.
I bet it will be worth the wait!
Haven't had the opportunity to workout today, and I really want to go to the rec center, which we recently got year round passes for. I'm trying to decide whether to hit the track there tomorrow or the treadmill. I guess it will depend on how Grace feels since she's had a bout with the sniffles.
Tomorrow's adventure: Slow cooker shredded chicken taco salad.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Eat More to Weigh Less
It may seem counter-intuitive, but I recently discovered that I need to be eating more than I am to weigh less than I do. MFP always talks about eating back the calories you burned during exercise. I didn't see the point. Weren't you SUPPOSED to burn calories?
Not exactly. The light bulb finally came on on Sunday when I really sat down to think about it. I was eating 1200 calories a day, and burning 500 of those in workouts. If I didn't eat back my cals, that would be a 500 calorie deficit, putting me well below 1200 calories. You're not supposed to do that. Your body will go into survival mode if you go any lower than 1200. It's just not a good idea. To make sure I had this right, I posted my question on MFP. Several people confirmed my notion, and I upped my daily calorie intake to 1400. I had been feeling exceptionally hungry lately, especially since I started spacing my 3 meals out into 6 very small meals, since that's supposed to rev up your metabolism.
Well, this morning I did my daily weigh in on Wii Fit Plus. My wii scale is only a pound off from my real scale, and it said I was at 222. So I get on my real scale, and sure enough-- 223.4! I was 225.8 on Friday. That's a 2.4 lb weight loss in 4 days. THAT'S AMAZING! I hope my body does that again when I officially weigh in with a few of my MFP groups on Friday. Can't wait to see Clarene on February 3rd. Hoping to be at 30 lb weight loss when I see her. 35 lbs would be even better. If I can get to 35 by the 3rd, I'll have gotten down to my pre-baby weight in 3 months.
She'll be floored!
Not exactly. The light bulb finally came on on Sunday when I really sat down to think about it. I was eating 1200 calories a day, and burning 500 of those in workouts. If I didn't eat back my cals, that would be a 500 calorie deficit, putting me well below 1200 calories. You're not supposed to do that. Your body will go into survival mode if you go any lower than 1200. It's just not a good idea. To make sure I had this right, I posted my question on MFP. Several people confirmed my notion, and I upped my daily calorie intake to 1400. I had been feeling exceptionally hungry lately, especially since I started spacing my 3 meals out into 6 very small meals, since that's supposed to rev up your metabolism.
Well, this morning I did my daily weigh in on Wii Fit Plus. My wii scale is only a pound off from my real scale, and it said I was at 222. So I get on my real scale, and sure enough-- 223.4! I was 225.8 on Friday. That's a 2.4 lb weight loss in 4 days. THAT'S AMAZING! I hope my body does that again when I officially weigh in with a few of my MFP groups on Friday. Can't wait to see Clarene on February 3rd. Hoping to be at 30 lb weight loss when I see her. 35 lbs would be even better. If I can get to 35 by the 3rd, I'll have gotten down to my pre-baby weight in 3 months.
She'll be floored!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Time Out
Grace just had her first time out. She was making our video cabinet wobble. We don't have it bolted to the wall, because we move it often, so bolting isn't really an option, which leaves it as kind of a dangerous play thing for Grace. We've told her no, but after her 18 month checkup yesterday, her doctor said now is the time to start time outs. So we had one. I gave her a warning "One... two... TIME OUT!" and stuck her in the corner between our front door, bedroom door, and closet door. It seemed perfect. It took about 10 minutes of us putting her back into the corner and telling her she was in time out, but she eventually got it. She stayed for 1 minute. We then went to her, told her why she was there, taught her the sign for sorry, and gave loves. In a few months I will bring her up to speed of 1.5 minutes, since she's 1 & 1/2 now. I think the minute for each year of your life is the way to go. And in a few months, she'll be a pro at time out, and I think ready for 1.5 mins.
Boy, parenting is fun! I was really proud she picked up pretty quickly and stayed where she was told. I have the best baby ever!
Boy, parenting is fun! I was really proud she picked up pretty quickly and stayed where she was told. I have the best baby ever!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Nobody Panic
Okay.... NOBODY PANIC!
I had a meeting for church last night (I'm on the primary presidency), and I ran my first half mile. I went 1/2 a mile in 7 minutes... because I walked... a LITTLE! I can run from my house to the block corner, which is probably 1/3 of the way, then I walked a block, then I ran 1/2 a block, then I walked, then I pushed up a small hill at a jog. Boy, have I been strongly disillusioned! Running forward is NOT easier than running in place. It's not even on the same playing field. It's COMPLETELY DIFFERENT! The air has been real bad here, so knowing that, maybe I'm just panicking... my legs were not tired, I just couldn't breathe. When I got to the president's house, I sat down, enthusiastically accepted water, and in my mind kept thinking "Oh, no, what have I signed up for?! 3 miles of THAT! No, no, no, it's not possible. I'm going to look like a total fool."
But the 2 gals that were at the meeting have both run several races, and one gave me a ride home, even though I wanted to run. I told her my feelings, and she said it's cuz it's cold and the air is really crappy right now, and I'll do fine. Just run the hill every other day till the race, and that should build up the stamina I need. She even offered to loan me her jogging stroller for the day of the race if Andy signs up so we can take Grace with.
I had a meeting for church last night (I'm on the primary presidency), and I ran my first half mile. I went 1/2 a mile in 7 minutes... because I walked... a LITTLE! I can run from my house to the block corner, which is probably 1/3 of the way, then I walked a block, then I ran 1/2 a block, then I walked, then I pushed up a small hill at a jog. Boy, have I been strongly disillusioned! Running forward is NOT easier than running in place. It's not even on the same playing field. It's COMPLETELY DIFFERENT! The air has been real bad here, so knowing that, maybe I'm just panicking... my legs were not tired, I just couldn't breathe. When I got to the president's house, I sat down, enthusiastically accepted water, and in my mind kept thinking "Oh, no, what have I signed up for?! 3 miles of THAT! No, no, no, it's not possible. I'm going to look like a total fool."
But the 2 gals that were at the meeting have both run several races, and one gave me a ride home, even though I wanted to run. I told her my feelings, and she said it's cuz it's cold and the air is really crappy right now, and I'll do fine. Just run the hill every other day till the race, and that should build up the stamina I need. She even offered to loan me her jogging stroller for the day of the race if Andy signs up so we can take Grace with.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Uphill, Both Ways!
I did something crazy today.
I signed up for my first 5k!
The race is January 30th-- only 2 weeks away. The only training I've had thus far is running in place with my wii. Yes, I'm nuts, but we've previously established this fact. I feel pretty confident I can run for 30-40 mins, because I did a 20 minute "run" yesterday with the Wii, and then another 8. Today I'm resting my legs. No workout. Just staying under on my calories. Going to use the spare time to download some decent music to run to on my iPod, AKA Steve.
Also, I was very naughty. This morning I asked Andy for $20, which he thought over and then agreed to. I merrily went to Hale Center Theater, host of the race, and put in my $20 entry fee... then proceeded to Payless for running shoes... and KMart for decent, non-ugly sweats to run in. The last 2 were kinda unexpected expenses, but necessary. These shoes I found are very cool. When I put them on, I was floored. They fit like a glove... like someone designed them specifically for my weird, flat, duck-like feet. Yet they were soft and pliable and RUNNING SHOES! I've never felt a shoe like this before. I feel like I could LIVE in them. They were $30. The pants were $15. I can't believe I fit into a large pant. I've never fit into a large before! I guess I am losing inches, despite the tape measurer saying otherwise when I measured at the start of the month.
The last thing I will whine at Andy for is some new head phones, since I lost my marshmallows and can't find my other set which was kinda torched anyway, and an arm band for Steve, and some head bands to keep hair & sweat out of my face.
Random, but I've recently come to the decision that all cows are mutants based solely on the fact that they have only 1 boob, but 4 nipples.
Did I mention the race is going to be held over a 40% grade hill, both ways? And you thought those stories from your grandpa going uphill both ways was a tall tale.
Oh, yeah, I'm doing it!
I signed up for my first 5k!
The race is January 30th-- only 2 weeks away. The only training I've had thus far is running in place with my wii. Yes, I'm nuts, but we've previously established this fact. I feel pretty confident I can run for 30-40 mins, because I did a 20 minute "run" yesterday with the Wii, and then another 8. Today I'm resting my legs. No workout. Just staying under on my calories. Going to use the spare time to download some decent music to run to on my iPod, AKA Steve.
Also, I was very naughty. This morning I asked Andy for $20, which he thought over and then agreed to. I merrily went to Hale Center Theater, host of the race, and put in my $20 entry fee... then proceeded to Payless for running shoes... and KMart for decent, non-ugly sweats to run in. The last 2 were kinda unexpected expenses, but necessary. These shoes I found are very cool. When I put them on, I was floored. They fit like a glove... like someone designed them specifically for my weird, flat, duck-like feet. Yet they were soft and pliable and RUNNING SHOES! I've never felt a shoe like this before. I feel like I could LIVE in them. They were $30. The pants were $15. I can't believe I fit into a large pant. I've never fit into a large before! I guess I am losing inches, despite the tape measurer saying otherwise when I measured at the start of the month.
The last thing I will whine at Andy for is some new head phones, since I lost my marshmallows and can't find my other set which was kinda torched anyway, and an arm band for Steve, and some head bands to keep hair & sweat out of my face.
Random, but I've recently come to the decision that all cows are mutants based solely on the fact that they have only 1 boob, but 4 nipples.
Did I mention the race is going to be held over a 40% grade hill, both ways? And you thought those stories from your grandpa going uphill both ways was a tall tale.
Oh, yeah, I'm doing it!