A little bit on Day 2

I think I've found my new comfort food. Seriously, I'm in love. I was going to put some black eyed peas in it but didn't think ahead with the cooking so I left them out. I made some brown rice though. And as the main part I carmelized up half an onion in a little olive oil and I sliced up 3 small Portobello mushrooms into thick slices. I seasoned the mushroom and onions with some garlic powder, a little garlic salt, fresh cracked pepper and a little paprika. Put the mixture over the cooked rice and eat. Delicious! For the meat eaters this would probably go well with a steak? Ok, off to tend to a feverish Tot. He's not been feeling well the past couple days. Hoping he's feeling well enough for school tomorrow.

Day 1, Hours....all of them

It went ok. I was ready to eat my kitchen chairs by dinner time but I stuck to it. Dinner wasn't anything earth shattering. I decided that I had to have baked beans and pasta. I was so intent on the baked beans though that I completely forgot to put the garlic on my pasta. Gasp! Did you hear that? I know I sure did. I didn't dig into my weekly point allowance. We're having company today and tomorrow and I suspect that I'll be using those up in that time frame.

Dinner for anyone wondering was sweetened baked beans with real maple syrup. A single serving of pasta with some vegan "butter" which I'm getting used to. I can only imagine how I'm going to react to real butter once I'm done nursing. Maybe I should learn to do a cartwheel? I also sprinkled some nutritional yeast flakes on top of the pasta to act as my cheese. That stuff is pretty good for anyone wondering. And if you're dairy free or just looking for a boost nutritionally to your diet that stuff packs a punch for just a little bit.

Because I wasn't full from the pasta and beans I also ate two kiwis and a pear. By time I ate that I was at least comfortable. For the snack before Tot saying he wanted to go to bed during what would be Prime Time hours (if we had television service) I had some blackberries, carrots and some hummus. And I drank three liters of water yesterday. I've been really bad about drinking water lately so I've got to get better about that. Daredevil I think enjoyed all the water I was drinking yesterday because she had a very heavy diaper this morning. Anyway, off to start our regularly scheduled week. Onto hour 3.

One hour at a time

I love food! And I love it so much that coupled with my constant hunger as a lactating/breastfeeding mother, and bouts of depression throughout my adult life (where I'd eat often only meal a day because all I wanted to do was crawl under a rock) I'm overweight. And I need to do something about it. For me. For Hubs. And for Tot and Daredevil. But, really for me. I'm tired of avoiding mirrors. Although I've never really liked what I saw in them anyway and that comes from 30+ years of being told/eavesdropping (yep, I've done my fair share of that and I'll admit it. It's amazing what you hear when people think you aren't listening!) I was ugly/fat/not good enough/never amount to anything/blah blah blah. Fill in the blank. Needless to say my self worth some days are shot. And it shouldn't be.

So, I'm working to maybe change that a little bit. I want to get healthy again and shed a few of the pounds I've picked up in the past ten years. I signed up for Weight Watchers at home. I tried originally signing up for the online stuff but got screwed on that one because it's all online and I didn't realize that one. So, that was a whole lot of wasted money. I found the at home one and bought that but dang it I want my money back from the online program that I NEVER used. Who has more than a few minutes a day to sit at a computer and look all that crap up?! Not me. Daredevil throws a fit if I even look at my computer. And the reason she's not throwing one right now is because she is conveniently occupied cleaning the floor with one of the napkins I made for the kids. It has minkee on it. And if she's not trying to wipe up the dust bunnies she's chasing Tot. So, they're both occupied for five whole minutes. It's a win-win situation in my book. Anyway, back to topic. With my love of food I've decided that I need to take this diet thing one hour at a time. I can't commit to more than that. I just can't. It's not in me so don't even tell me that I can do it for longer than an hour. I'll roll my eyes at you and visualize me shoving a bunch of marbles in your mouth. So 1 hour. That's it! I've asked one of my friends whose also doing the online program to help me kinda stay on track. Some accountability and a buddy will be good.

This morning is the first day of it all. My goals for the week are no fast food and no soda. The no fast food is hard because I haven't felt like cooking with only the little electric burner. And the soda is really hard because I now have no means of even just a little bit of caffeine to get through the bad days. And I'm not drinking coffee black. And I only have herbal teas in the house which are lovely but they are no sugary soft drink. I'll have to switch over to the teas though for my non-water beverage of choice.

So, let's get to hour 1 which is breakfast.
I had oatmeal! I put some steel cut oats in the crock pot last night because I wanted to try that and see how it was. I didn't put enough water in because it burned a little on the top. I'm an idiot and wasted something really good. But, the oatmeal that didn't become a nasty hard crust was really nice looking. So, I'll be doing that more often I think. And I have enough leftover for at least two more breakfasts. Here's what my bowl looked like after it was doctored up....

I had Daredevil try a little bit before I added the nuts in and she kept coming back to taste it so that was pretty cool. One of my kids likes oatmeal. Yay! I actually like oatmeal and will have it for dinner on occasion.

Fruit and Nut Oatmeal (for a whopping 17 points for anyone counting)

1/2 cup cooked steel cut oatmeal

2 TBSP ground flaxseed meal

1/4 c. dried cherries

1 oz. walnuts

1/3 c. oat milk unsweetened (we're on the dairy free bandwagon again)

1 TBSP. sugar

This was honestly very good. I've already drank a liter of water though and am still hungry. But, this recipe for breakfast is definitely a keeper since it tasted good. And I like that the oat milk just kind of blended in with the flavor and that I was able to help keep the oatmeal from being dried out nastiness. I'm going to package up the rest of the oatmeal so it's ready to grab and heat. I'm leaving out the nuts though so that Daredevil can try it before I add them in. I'd like to keep her liking oatmeal. The sugar is a lot but again I just want food that tastes good. With that Daredevil is pulling on my shirt so it's time to go. Wish me luck!

Remember me being a smurf?

I never said what I did with the Easter Egg Dyed yarn. Well, I stared at that skein for a while. And the more I stared at it the more I hated the pink color because it was so bright. Hello 80's! I have no desire to revisit you...ever. So, I let it sit. And then I finally decided to do something with it because it was taking up space in my drawer. I turned it into two dryer balls because I needed more anyway. And then I crocheted a cover over the dryer balls for two reasons...1) I didn't felt them because when I felt them they fall apart and then it's a waste of good wool and 2) the cover prevents unravelling at a later date even with successful  felting. I think that they actually turned out really cute. And I can't mistake them in the clothing pile when I'm folding laundry. My other two are brown and they kind of get lost in the crowd. These have been used already for a little over a month and I love them! I have enough of that dyed wool left to make probably one more small dryer ball. Or that's my hope anyway. ;-)

More lazy enchiladas

Remember my previous crockpot enchiladas? Well, I made them again because I need some comfort food. It was a particularly rough week in my little world as I've been a bundle of nerves as well as tired as well as caring for two children who've been sick. So, enough was enough and I decided that with my fall again off the dairy free bandwagon that I was going to have one last bender for a while with that which I love so much. And that I am doing. I have enough leftovers for 4 more meals I think. And this is crazy-lactating-woman-I'll-stab-your-hand-with-a-fork-if-you-even-look-at-my-plate size meals. There's no pic because I just didn't think to take one while I was in comfort food bliss last night.

Here's the second version (which could feed a house full of perpetually starving teenagers)
The shopping list is:
2 lbs ground beef (or chicken or whatever it is that's on sale that you want)
2 ginormous sweet onions (I'm talking about those suckers that are almost as big as your head. They're sweet and mild but add a great flavor and texture)
4 cans enchilada sauce
3 cans of tomatoes with chilis or fire roasted with garlic
1 small bag of frozen corn
1 small bag of frozen black eyed peas
1 lb bag of shredded cheese or the brick if it's cheaper and shred it yourself
Sour cream for garnish
Olives for garnish (optional)

To make:

Cook the meat and diced up onions together until the meat is barely pink and set aside for a few minutes to cool.

Spray your 6 qt crock well so you don't burn anything. Burned enchiladas would be a sad waste of food.

Then layer in the crock:
corn tortillas. (I put 4 on each "layer")
a couple TBSP enchilada sauce
2-3 big cooking spoons of the meat mixture from above
2-3 TBSP fire roasted tomatoes with garlic or ro-tel (I used both)
a couple TBSP enchilada sauce
1/2 cup frozen corn
1/2 frozen black eyed peas
couple handfuls of shredded sharp cheddar cheese (from a 1 lb bag).
Repeat this 2-3 more times. Put on a final layer of tortillas and the rest of the cheese from the bag which should be about two cups and the rest of the can of enchilada sauce. (I think I had half a can at the end).

Set on high and let it cook 3-4 hours. Garnish and chow down.

Now, you may notice when it comes out of the crock it's a little runny. If it's too runny for you put a couple tortillas on the plate before you serve. There's a reason for this madness.... In the event you should have leftovers, which I'm lucky enough to have for the next couple days, the enchiladas are reheating perfectly because I put enough liquid in this time. Last time I didn't feel I had enough. For the reheat I put two extra tortillas in my bowl and scooped the enchiladas on top and got it hot that way. I put my sour cream and olives on top and I am in heaven. I only spent $6 in ingredients because most of it I had already in my pantry/freezer. My mom bought me the meat before she left because she was afraid I was going to starve if I was going through a week of no cooking. I'm not starving. For a little effort there's a lot of bang for the buck.  So, there you have it. Oh, and this easy makes twice what my first efforts made. So, for normal non-lactating folks this would easily feed at least 8-10 people. If you added some beans on the side you could make this stretch very easily to feed your own mini-army. Enjoy!

Wool obsession

I didn't put Tot in much wool because I really didn't understand it. And Hubs was worried about how he was going to be able to handle it. When Daredevil came along I had two pieces because I was learning to knit (and I still am) and I figured I'd give it a try. What's the worst that could happen? Really it's just pee. Well, the worst thing that could happen is that you fall in love with it and become obsessed on obtaining more! Since that's not a financially feasible thing to buy here I'm doing the next best thing. I'm making it myself. There are some adorable wool diapering garments out there but many of them are well out of my price range at $50 on up. With a little patience so far I've made several soakers and a couple pairs of longies just scouring the internet for free patterns and also doing a little trial and error as I go. I'm currently working on a project that is for Daredevil and it will be of the cover function but for now that one's under wraps because I'm messing around with it a little bit to see fully what I come up with.

What's so great about wool you ask? Well, it provides breathability. A lot of it. And for babes with sensitive skin like mine they get a lot of benefit from having air able to get at their skin. Doesn't it get soaked? Well, yes and no. Wool when properly cared for has this wonderful ability to retain it's weight (and then a little more) when wet. So, if I put on a diaper that's reasonably stuffed for Daredevil's peeing abilities for overnight with a wool cover I can be guaranteed that I wake up with a dry bed. And the lanolin acts as a scrubber to neutralize the urine. They can be worn several times (often a couple weeks) before needing to be washed again. Once it starts smelling like urine is when it's time to wash it. Now if you're using it during the newborn stage you're going to get poop on it because let's face it...poop happens. Just wash and lightly lanolize. Or don't even bother lanolizing because it's going to get washed again the next time it's worn right? And if you're doing frequent changes compression leaks from the baby sitting on the floor playing or even in the carseat don't really happen. If you notice that the wool is starting to feel damp it's definitely time for a diaper change.

Wool is fantastic though. With Daredevil I currently have two pairs of longies that I put on her on the cold or windy days here. They keep her warm and dry. And because the wool is breathable it would work to also keep her cool if wearing them on the warm days. She's not overheating, I promise. And the other great thing about wool is that you can really find a lot to match your personality or tastes depending on what you're buying. If you have even basic knitting or crocheting skills and a little time you can make them yourself. There are lots of options out there. And you can always have that secret wishlist of what you'd like to try. On mine I have an interlock pair either by Sbish or a custom by Once Upon A Baby on etsy. I borrowed a soaker from a friend who had one made by the latter and I loved it. Daredevil was incredibly comfortable and it was great for a marathon of errands.

Isn't it hard to care for? Nope. I have a little tub that I use to care for mine. I got it in the kitchen department. It's used for washing dishes. I put in my wool wash and run some very warm water and swish it around. And I add some liquid lanolin or some solid like Lansinoh used for breastfeeding. About the size of a dime and I put my piece(s) in and swirl them around briefly to get wet and capture the lanolin droplets floating in the water. I let it sit for about a half hour. Then I gently wring out excess water. I put the piece in a towel and roll it up to get more water out and then I line dry it. It dries for me in a day here because there's no humidity to really speak of. In the colder climates though it did take about two days to dry unless I put it in a sunny spot near (but not on) a heater. I currently have 8 pieces in rotation and I'm working on more. A couple are crocheted soakers (underwear style) that were felted (put in the washer on hot until they shrunk to where I wanted them and then dried). Two pairs of longies (pants) and a pair of shorties (shorts). I also have a pair of longies for Daredevil to wear next year. They were for Tot but he refused to wear them so they have to sit for another year until she's ready to wear them. Give it a try. I assume no responsibility for the obsession that follows.

Crockpot Meatloaf

I had some ladies over the other night and I made a meatloaf in the crockpot. It actually turned out pretty good. The whole meal actually worked out because I only used the crockpot or the microwave for the entire thing. Now, I'm not a fan of beef much anymore but I really wasn't sure of what to make that would be pleasing because these were new friends that I had met and I didn't know what their food style was. I figured a meatloaf was going to be pretty easy and the least offensive. It was. Let's start with dessert though....

I made an almond poundcake in the crockpot the night before. I had a mix from Tastefully Simple lying around and I wanted to use it up. I also did it using what I had on hand. Since I'm supposed to be dairy free I didn't have much real butter in the house. I had 4 tablespoons left in the fridge from when my mom was visiting over the winter break. So that along with my vegan butter is what I used for the required butter component of the mix. Also, you need to spray the heck out of the stone. I only half-assed it because I wasn't fully paying attention since Tot was hanging around. So, when I say spray it I mean it. Don't miss an inch. Mix the batter according to package directions and then put it in the stone on low for about 4 hours or until the toothpick comes out of the center clean. I did this the night before when I was frantically cleaning off my kitchen table of all the craft projects and hidden poptart crumbs Tot left behind.

The meatloaf:
1 lb ground beef
1 packet of onion soup mix
1/2 onion diced very fine (With my love of garlic what's not to like about onions, they're relatives.)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 egg
3/4 c breadcrumbs
1/4 c warm water
3/4 c barbecue sauce (I used Jack Daniels Spicy Original)

Mix it all together. Shape it into one of them mini loaf pans. Mine was frozen when I went to put it in the crock so it would hold together better. I was also able to just run the loaf pan under warm water to get the pan off so I could stick the brick of meat in the crock. I cooked it on high for six hours with some carrots in there and a topping of sauce. And serve on the side was extra sauce warmed up for anyone that wanted it. I threw some squash in the microwave and the meal was done. Very easy and the best part was that it was very lazy. ;-)

There aren't any pics because I didn't think of it. And Daredevil has been a little under the weather all week so she grabs anything that looks shiny and tries to shove it in her mouth. Teething is such a bugger.

Changes. Changes. And more changes.

So, I'm still going through one of my moods. I think I want to change the name of my etsy shop but I have no clue on a name. I will entertain possibilities though. If I get enough options to choose from I may also hold a giveaway or do a discount. I'm not sure, but it'll be something.

I'm also trying to decide if I want to reside here at this address or if I'd like to move over to an address that says theunsuccessfulwife dot whatever. Seems more suitable since that's really what this is about. I already know I'm dreadful at blogging. :-P

And I'm also trying to compile my knitting list for the year for the kiddos. It takes so long to knit one item for them but I enjoy it. And Daredevil needs more wool because that's what works the best for her I'm finding. And seeing her in wool that I spent three weeks making for her makes me happy. I'm a sap. What can I say? That's what I've got going on right now. And I'm actually making my way through my pantry. It's in small steps but it's happening. Seems like all that's needed is a brief moment of inspiration.