Nannie's Rice Makeover

Last night, I had a real blast from the past.

When I was a little girl, I remember eating my Nannie's rice.I am sure it was probably originally born out of a way to extend the life of leftover rice so it would not go to waste, I don't know...I've never asked my mom. Regardless, I loved it. It was complete comfort food to me. the original recipe called for 1 c warm cooked rice, 1 beaten egg mixed into the rice, sugar to taste, about a cup of milk, and some nutmeg (about 1/4 tsp). After it all was mixed together, you put it in the fridge to let it get cold. Once totally chilled, it was ready to eat.

Last night I wanted to eat something, but didn't know what. I decided to do something with some leftover farro that I had in the fridge. I was telling my DH that morning that I planned to eat it warmed up the next morning instead of oatmeal. I guess that thought about making the farro a sweet breakfast treat must have been in my head because I looked at the farro and a light bulb went off inside my head: Nannie's Rice. And so I threw it together. I used about 1-1 1/2 c of farro, about 3/4 c of Lite Silk Vanilla Soy Milk, stevia to taste, and a couple shakes of nutmeg. Except for the fact that it didn't sit in the fridge and some of the soy milk didn't soak into the farro, it tasted exactly like I remembered.  I finished the whole bowl and thought about my Nannie.  Definitely, a healthier, lighter version of a childhood favorite dish. Yum.

So I have been trying lots of new recipes over the past week, and I am anxious to tell you about them. Unfortunately, the pictures I took will have to be posted later due to a problem with Blogger, but I didn't want to wait any longer to tell you about my  new edible discoveries.


First, I had only moderate success last Monday when I cooked a spaghetti squash for the very first time. I followed the directions to a tee, and while a knife inserted easily into each half that I oven baked, I still found the "spaghetti" to be not soft enough for my liking. The taste was great though. I ate it with and without sauce and like it both ways. For me though, it is more of a side dish. I would never serve it as an entree with spaghetti sauce because I didn't find it hearty enough. Working with it was interesting though, because when I cut it open, the insides really smelled like and resembled pumpkin guts which I did not expect. I plan to look up a couple of other recipes for spaghetti squash so I can try it again in the future.


On Friday, I made my  delicious Homemade Grain-ola . It is so good and made the house smell wonderful. 


Also on Friday, I tried 2 new recipes from Lindsay Nixon, The Happy Herbivore.  I got her Everyday Happy Herbivore cookbook for my birthday and The Happy Herbivore cookbook for Christmas. I am loving both of them. From EHH, I made Lindsay's Quick Burgers. DH and I both liked them, but I wouldn't call them a burger. The word "burger" to me is specific to the meat eater I used to be and insinuates a certain robust consistency which every vegetarian, vegan, or black bean burger recipe I have ever tried to cook has never ever had.We liked the recipe a lot, but we call it a black bean "patty," not a burger. I will make them again as they were easy peasy to put together and only took a short time to cook.  DH and I each ate 1 patty on a whole wheat hamburger bun and I froze one. The other fell apart as I was  handling it, so I used it as a topper on my next salad Yum on all accounts. Lindsay's Quick Burgers get 4 spoons from me.




The other recipe of Lindsay's that I made, Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins,  gets 5 spoons. We all loved it and I could not believe there was no milk or eggs in it. It is a definite keeper and a recipe I will make again and again. The ginger added a really nice flavor to the muffins that I wasn't sure I would like, but I did. The next of Lindsay's muffins I  plan to try are her Carrot Spice Muffins. Her  Chocolate-Zucchini Muffins are already a family favorite. So Far, Loving both of my Happy Herbivore Cookbooks.

Dear Me letter

Based on an activity for a weight loss challenge that I am currently participating in at Sisterhood of The Shrinking Jeans, I have written a letter from my 2014 self to my 2013 self.  The purpose of the letter is motivation to be a better me this year, and the 2014 me will tell me how awesome I am and offer kudos to me for all I have accomplished. I like this exercise. I think I will reread the letter monthly to keep me going.  What would your 2014 self say to your 2013 self about all you've accomplished?

Dear Shannon 2013,

Wow! I can't believe it's been another year already! Time flies, and the older I get, the faster it seems to go. It makes me realise how important it is to make time matter.  I must say congratulations to you because you really embraced time this year.

First of all, you look fabulous. Losing weight and toning up has not only made you look even better on the outside, but also on the inside. You are much happier with your body now, and your self esteem is soaring. You feel better knowing that you're comfortable in your skin and that your size doesn't really matter as long as you're healthy and feel good. And, as someone who has never liked to shop, you have certainly enjoyed shopping this year for new clothing. You are embracing your curves, and it works for you.

You also feel healthier than you did last January, and I know you didn't think that was possible. Between regular exercise and eating right, your insides are cheering for you and the pom poms are shakin'.  You have changed some eating habits of your family as well and added a whole  bunch of new  healthy recipes to your recipe binder. Good for you, and good for your family!

Personally, you've also been successful. You have sharpened your key boarding skills and found a way not to kill a plant. You have become more involved with your NOW group and are working toward real change that will help us all. You're more organized than last year, and you have actually finished reading 2 books (I know: wonders never cease!) And you've found a way to enjoy belly dancing again. You've missed it, and now it's back. You're exercising more and watching tv less. Needing to move each day, even in some small way, has become more important than ever to you, and it shows .

You've had challenges this year that have changed you in many different ways, but what hasn't changed is how awesome and beautiful you are. In short, you simply ROCK!

You've had a great year.  Makes me excited to see what's in store for you in  the next year.

Love,
Shannon 2014

Happy New Year a Few Weeks Late

January 5, 2013

Like a lot of others people, after the holidays, I felt a need to detox. Too much white flour (which I never have) and too many sweets ( which I have only on occasion). I can't blame anyone but myself. I ate the food...heck, I cooked a lot of the food, and, yes, it was delicious. I think I ate my weight in bourbon balls. I had more heartburn and bloating over the holidays than I usually do...carb overload, I suppose.

My sister, Tricia, emailed me about starting a 21 Day Vegan Kick Start Challenge shortly before the New Year, and it was just the motivation I needed to detox and get "back on track."  I have been vegetarian for a couple of years, and vegan just seemed way too "out there" for me, but because I knew I needed something to jump start me back to more healthy eating after the holidays, I decided to give it a whirl. As a milk girl, an avid egg eater, and a cheese mistress, I  thought it would be the worst thing ever. To my surprise, it hasn't been that bad.  I have only been doing it for 5 days, but I already feel great...no more heartburn, bloating, and way more energy. I'm not sure I'll do the vegan thing past the 21 days of the challenge, but I'm going to stick with it, at least till the 21 days is over. Wish me luck.

January 11, 2013

I lost 3 pounds on week one. I'll take it. Now that I'm more used to eating vegan, I'm going to work over the next couple of weeks on eating fewer calories(actually "dieting" and getting back to the gym. I honestly don't think I'll stay vegan, but it is interesting.

Thanksgiving ... My Style

So Thanksgiving has come and gone...the day, at least. I used to hate that Thanksgiving was over way too quickly, because it's my favorite holiday. Stripped of all the rigmarole of Christmas and with no religious ties, it's simply the perfect family holiday. It's a day to be grateful for all that we have and a time to spend with those who mean the most to us. 

Thanksgiving used to seem so short because I'd cook for hours and hours and then in 30 minutes or less we were actually done with the meal. Our Thanksgiving is longer now. It's not just Thanksgiving Day, but Thanksgiving weekend.  We make it last in our family. It starts with me cooking all day while the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and football play in the background and listening to the sounds of the 4 men in my life doing various and sundry things.  At our meal we all go around the table and say what we are thankful for and why.  After dinner, a walk, and then (drumroll)...Punkin' Chunkin'. Fun, fun, fun!  The rest of the weekend is ours to spend together just hanging out. We took the kids bowling today and I channeled my inner Dude. What I discovered is that I need to listen to more bowling to really get myself Zen with the ball. We had a great time. Other things we do are Poker games, movies, hot chocloate and smores over a fierpit in the backyard. Good times...good times.

As a vegetarian, I do not eat the turkey, but I do indulge in all the sides.  It's a very carb heavy meal though and I don't veganize anything. It is  clearly more carbs and sugar than I get in a month, but boy, is it worth it!  Next year, I'm going to try one new vegetable dish of some sort with our regular meal. And while I did eat my weight in Julie's Sweet Potatoes and our family's sage dressing with gravy, I did not eat any desserts. Alot of people prepare much healthier Thanksgiving menus than I do, and they like it, and that's okay. For me, though,  no matter what, I want what is traditional for me just minus the meat. I feel like it is a holiday, and so if I get a little more sugar than ususal, that's okay because 90 % of the time I eat much healthier. I don't think one meal will derail me in any meaningful way from my healthier lifestyle goals. And I am not a food monk. When I think of healthier Thanksgiving meals, I think of the Everybody Loves Raymond episode where Marie, on a health kick, tried to serve the family Tofu turkey.   I am not a fan of tofu, nor am I dissing tofu for those who want to eat it, but it doesn't mean Thanksgivng to me.

 

I guess I go back to Everything in Moderation when I deal with Holiday eating. It's just how I roll...

 

So, regardless if yours was a vegan, vegetrian, nutritarian, weight watchers, south beach, standard American diet Thanksgiving or whatever, I hope it was the best and that it was filled with food, family , and happy memories.

Football Food

This past month has been a really hard one, food-wise, anyway. One of my kids has football practice  2 1/2 hours each night and 5 nights a week for 4 weeks. It plays heck with us every August. And dinner? It just has to be quick and easy and "fit in" to our hectic schedule.

While DH and I do mostly soups and salads for dinner, the kids are a bit more tricky. Many times, my football guy just wants to grab a hot pocket before practice...the perfect amount of food for him and easy to make and eat. Thus far, I have been unsuccessful at making them from scratch, but I will keep trying. During football month, some of the things the kiddos regularly eat are listed below. Not all of them are listed, and not all of them are  homemade, but I just have to survive is my August motto, and a little prepackaged food is just going to have to be okay for the kids...at least for now.

August Quick Meals
Fish sticks (SB-store bought)
Mac n cheese (HM-homemade)
rotisserie chicken (SB)
Lo rotisserie chicken quesadillas (HM)
sandwiches, turkey clubs
hamburgers and fries (HM)
hot dogs and pizza pockets (SB)
parfaits and yogurt
carrots, green beans, broccoli
grilled cheese and tom soup
Oatmeal Chicken (HM)
Chicken fried rice-great LO (HM)
salad
eggs and waffles

This week our practices go to only 2 nights a week with a Friday night walk thru...much better for us and our eating. The kids are always glad when football goes to 3 nights a week because in their words, "Mom can finally cook again!"

Almost Tumbleweed's Chimichanga

I love Mexican Food...love it! However, chips and salsa are like a drug to me...once I have them, I don't want to stop eating them. I must have more. And then there is the cheese...the ooey gooey, yummy, ummy melted creamy goodness...oh my! Two great reasons why I avoid Mexican restaurants now that I am eating a lot healthier: addicting chips and salsa and loads of delicious melted cheese.

I used to LOVE a Tex Mex Restaurant in my home town called Tumbleweed.  When I was eating on the SAD (Standard American Diet), I thought it was the best.My standard meal was  3 tons (at least) of chips and salsa and a bean and cheese chimichanga (like a deep fried burrito) with enchilada sauce and sour cream. Not that it mattered much, but later, I switched to just a bean and cheese burrito, enchilada style with sour cream. In my mind, it was much healthier than its fried counterpart, the chimi. It wasn't fried so I guess that made it slightly better, but only slightly. At that time in my life, the unfried burrito probably didn't make that much of an impact on my health since I was eating poorly all around.  I wasn't plant strong then and hadn't a clue what a processed food was...I'm not sure back then I had even heard the term.

Well, I eat totally differently now. I guess we do gain some wisdom as we grow up. I am now plant strong and off most processed foods.  Most of what I eat is either a whole food or something I make from scratch. There are very few processed food exceptions that I'm still working on, but very few. This whole thing is a process though, right? 

And, I still miss Mexican Food sometimes ( the ooey, gooey, yummy, ummy, bad for you kind).  I have not been to a Mexican Restaurant in 1 1/2 years...my choice. I have still eaten Mexican food, but I have made it myself: like picante beans with brown rice , unfried refried beans with veggie quesadillas, and meatless taco salad.  So I made my own version of a Tumbleweed chimichanga that is unfried and much healthier.  Now, I need to try to find a recipe for an enchilada sauce that is equally as yummy as the canned kind I usually use because I really think it's the sauce that is reminiscent of my past chimichanga love. But for now, the canned sauce will have to do. Love, Love, Love this recipe!

Almost Tumbleweed's Bean & Cheese Chimichanga

whole wheat flour tortillas (soft taco size)

shredded lettuce

chopped Roma tomatoes

sour cream or vegan alternative

1/4 c Daiya cheese or lite shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 c refried beans of choice or my unfried refried bean recipe

nonstick cooking spray

Macayo's Enchilada sauce (red)

Spread 1/4 c beans in the center of a whole wheat tortilla.

Top with 1/4 c lite cheese or Daiya.

Roll up like a burrito and spray the outside with nonstick cooking spray.

Cook in the oven at 350F or on the stove top in a skillet till golden brown.

While the chimi is cooking, warm up some enchilada sauce.

Put the cooked chimi on a plate and top

with 1/8 c warmed enchilada sauce

and a dollop of sour cream if you desire.

Serve with shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes. Yum!