Good Times

I had such a great time with Marlin last night! I really need to get out more. All I do lately is hang out at home.

Going Crazy

I decided to do the Detox diet again. This time I had my two sisters & a coworker doing it with me. I was excited because I thought it would be so much easier the second time around.  

I was so wrong. The detox coincided with my period and really made the process so much harder.  On my first day I had a major headache. It almost felt like a migraine. I didn't take any medicine because I hoped it would only last one day.  

Today, my second day, the headache was gone in the morning but boy did it come back.  I decided to take Motrin rather than completely breaking the detox.  I took four Motrins and my headache did not improve. By the end of the day I was going crazy. I was thinking of what I could go eat. I was craving everything! Coffee, sandwich, hamburger, fish, chicken salad, candy....  I was going to sneak away from work to go eat but I was held up by employees needing stuff. I'm glad that happened because who knows what I would have ate.

On the way home I had an apple. Still no improvement. My mouth was watering at the idea of making tuna with crackers for dinner when my friend showed up.  I told him how miserable I was & he was very supportive of me postponing my detox.

I ended up eating a pretzel with mustard (we went to the movies) and lemonade. Got home & I had a small piece of brownie, some cookies, and coffee.  That's when my stomach said "WTF?"  

I'm drinking my detox tea right now. I'm not feeling crazy anymore & the headache is almost gone.  I'm thinking of getting back on the detox tomorrow. If I can get through it without a headache I should be fine but if the headache comes back then I'm off it for sure. We shall see what happens.

Nighty night.....

Past meals a.k.a Badges

Huevos Rancheros with Black Beans

Toluca Style Chorizo & Egg with Black Beans

:-) = me cooking

Salmon in Mole Sauce with Traditional Latin Rice

Dinner is the most difficult meal of the day for me.  There are so many options I get frustrated sometimes.

I was at that point this evening. I wanted to try cooking something new but I couldn't figure it out. Every recipe I looked at I was missing at least one ingredient. **Wish my kitchen could be stocked like Martha Stewart's!** I soon went from hungry to starving and was so close to snacking away for dinner.

Thankfully I opened a cupboard and saw the mole sauce. The light bulb turned on and I ended up with a yummy dinner. No recipe used! :-) I also have enough left over for lunch tomorrow.  

This was so easy that breaking it down to a recipe is ridiculous.  I simply followed the mole sauce (store bought) instructions and added salmon instead of traditional chicken.  It was so yummy!

The Latin rice does have a recipe but also very easy. 

Ingredients
1 cup of white rice
1 1/2 - 2 cups of water (I find that 2 cups of water can leave your rice very mushy and I do not like mushy rice.)
1/2 - 1 tbsp. (or to taste) of powdered Knorr Chicken Flavor Bouillon
Frozen veggies to taste
1 tbsp. of vegetable oil

Prep
Add oil to medium sized pot on medium/high heat.  Add rice and fry, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes. Rice will change color to a very light brown.  Add water and chicken bouillon, stir.  Taste water for flavor and add more bouillon if necessary.  Add frozen veggies, stir, cover pot, lower flame and simmer until water evaporates, about 10 minutes. Enjoy!



:-) = a happy tummy

Xoxo

Veggie Scramble

I have to admit that breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.  I love cooking it as well as eating it.

This morning I made a scramble with red & yellow peppers, ancho chile, & onion.  I added pieces of a veggie sausage patty. Yum!

Cooking, cooking, cooking!

I'm having so much fun cooking! I'm finally feeling brave enough to cook and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I especially feel accomplished when I cook a traditional Mexican/Latin dish. I told some of my friends that I almost feel like a Girl Scout who is earning her badges.

Several weeks ago I got the Bean Badge. I cooked them from scratch and days later I blended them to make re-fried beans.

I also earned the Beef Fajitas Badge although those were reeeeally easy and aren't traditionally Mexican.

Today I earned the Huevos Rancheros Badge. Yummy and yaay! I've had the recipe on my fridge for a while and was scared to try it but my ex-boss convinced me it was okay to change up the recipe the way I was thinking about doing it. So I did it and it was awesome! Just like my momma's!

The next badge I will work to get is the Chilaquiles Badge. I'm also working on the Rice Badge but that's a work in progress. :-) I made rice when I made the beans but I think the rice could've been better so I will make another attempt.

I have cooked other foods but they've been too easy and I can't consider them as badges earned. Not that the badges above were really hard to earn but I think that latin dishes are so much more intimidating. You have have a specific memory as to how it should taste and any variation is not good enough - a failure.

So when I cook pasta, fish, or steak in modern American fashion I feel like they don't count towards my badges. I know, I'm being dumb. lol....

The only con I can think of to all of this cooking is the dirty dishes. What a drag.... :-)

God of Grace and God of Glory: Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour.

I'm reading George W. Bush's memoir.  I'll explain later why I decided to read his book.  But first....

I'm currently on the chapter about September 11th 2001.  Reading about the events of that day and his reaction (which mirrored what many of us felt) brought me to tears. Wow, didn't expect those emotions to still feel so fresh.  

In the chapter he mentions the above prayer and I really liked it. It can really help you through a tough moment.

Xoxo
Me