Wednesday, February 29, 2012

No Tofu Fun

I tried the fried Tofu today.  It was ok. Not great, but ok.  But one hour after eating, I was itchy.  My cheeks were red and itching.  Then my neck and scalp.  Then my legs.  DAMN!

Can you say allergy?

So now I am on benadryl.  There are no hives, just warm and itchy.  I'm going to go whine in a corner and try to not scratch my legs raw.

Tofu Fun!

First and foremost, No.  I am not any type of Vegetarian.  Nope.  Never.  I love bacon and steak and meat wayyyyyy to much to give that up.  But I am bored with some of the standard sides I have been making.  Potatoes or plain rice are boring. Not to mention meat can be crazy expensive.  So can a metric ton of veggies during the off season.

Today I try Tofu.  Its something I have wanted to try for a long time and I'm willing to NOT SUBJECT the Husband and Kid to it for a full meal.  Some of my friends say stay away from it.  Others offered some wonderful ideas.  I've only had Tofu cleverly disguised as Chocolate Cheesecake and I ate it.  I completely understand the magical properties of Tofu where its all about the flavor.   There is a brick of the Wegmans Extra Firm tofu sitting in my fridge.  I will fry some and bake some.  An open mind is what I really need right now.  I had tried Quinoa and it was ok.  I love Hummus and some veggie spring rolls are really good.  So my taste pallet is going to expand damn it.  I will learn to like More food.


Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Veggie Yumminess

I don't care if Yumminess isn't a word.  It is now.  I made myself lunch today consisting of veggies.
Carrots. Red and Green Pepper. Potato. Zucchini.  Toss it in a bit a olive oil and add Penzey's Sandwich Sprinkle (it has everything I love so its my go to).  Roast for about 20 min at 425 degrees.

YUM! Freaking YUM!  The carrots were way sweeter than I thought they would be nothing was over or undercooked.   I'd say this was about 2 cups of veggies.

See Mom! I Ate my Veggies!!

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Friday, February 24, 2012

OMG!!!

We made the trek to David's Bridal today to see about a Communion Dress.  We tried JCPennys and that was a failure.  So it was David's as we thought the dresses would be truer to size.

The Dress Gods were with us!!  Right off the rack... an Ivory dress with rum Pink accents.  Her size and ON SALE!!  BAM!  Off the dressing room.  She put it on and was glowing. No joke.  She was grinning from ear to ear.  And the most wonderfulest part... we didn't need to buy a crown and veil.  My wedding dress just happens be .. Ivory and Rum pink.

It SOOOOO needs to be made shorter and that will be accomplished soon enough.  But the veil is just the right length!!!!  BONUS!!!  So instead of her wearing my 1st communion headpiece, she is wearing my wedding one.  Win Win!


Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Lent

Lent is a time of sacrifice and reflection.  We give up something that we probably shouldn't be doing in the first place.   For me, it's Sugar.  Mostly chocolate and candy.  But I'm giving up excess sugar in my coffee and limiting what I eat that has sugar in it.   Do I need it? no.  Do I really want it?  yes... Its an addiction.  Time to break the habit and go cold turkey.

No if you will excuse me, I need throw out a piece of cake and some ice cream that is just way too freaking tempting.  Damn temptation...  

Friday, February 17, 2012

stinky


Kisses
Originally uploaded by melblackrose
We met a growing up milestone today. My little baby girl..... is now wearing deodorant. She's not a baby anymore...

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Buh Bye Sugar

We (Tim and I) always give up Chocolate and candy like snack things for Lent.  We do it too.  Now, its not been an issue the last few years as I don't tend to keep Candy in the house - except for the bucket of sweets Erin gets from parties, Halloween, Valentine's Day, Easter..  we are usually munching on Halloween candy well into the fall.

Well this year I'm taking it one step further.  No Sugar (Working on refined white sugar first).  So no sugar in Coffee. No Candy. No Chocolate.  The issue is with coffee creamer.  I use various ones that tend to have the sweeteners in it (come on, its Hazelnut).  Nope.. they must go.  I need keep on hand 2% milk.. Skim doesn't cut it for coffee.  

The other issue issue is with all the High Fructose additive that gets added to just about everything.  I started reading labels over the last few months and I was floored.  No wonder good high quality natural food taste "different".  

I've taken some steps already. I've decreased the amount of sugar in my coffee (some days I don't put any in).  Tea is being made and I'm working to use no sugar at all - the German Rock Sugar is used but just a smidge to sweeten it a bit.  I found a wonderful Acai Blueberry Green tea at RiteAid of all places.  and I drink it Hot too!! I know!! ODD!!

I know some of you are asking why (Mom, I know.. I know).  The reason - just cause. Sure, there are all the reports of how Sugar should be regulated like alcohol, but that won't happen.  I just want to see if I can do it.   Tim and Erin's birthday will be interesting but I'll manage.  

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Birthday Cake Attempt = HELL YA!

It's Tim's  birthday today.  So as a treat, I made him his favorite dinner - Irish Chicken.  Cooked Chicken over noodles with a Mushroom Bailey's sauce.  


I found the recipe a few years back and I make it for special occasions.  Not to mention it is SUPER easy to make.  If you like mushrooms and Irish Cream, its a hit.


Erin on the other hand didn't like it at all so she had plain chicken. 

But the kicker of the day was the Cake.  BOSTON CREAM CAKE.  Yes, you read that right.   




Again.  Easy to do.  All you need is a boxed Yellow cake mix. When its done and cool, cut it in half to do a layer cake. 

Then, make Vanilla pudding.  When its good and chilled, use that as your filling.  Be careful to not go overboard or it will spill out the sides when  you put the top layer on.  

The Chocolate Glaze is last.  Its butter, vanilla, chocolate chips and Corn Syrup.  Melted it in the Micro and poured it over the cake.  Chilled for a bit and WHAM!!  Cake!!  So freaking good. 


Happy Birthday My Love..   enjoy the Cake!!!

Monday, February 13, 2012

More bread

The kid just pounced on me asking me "How do you do it?!!"

She was referring to the bread.  I made another load of the No Knead bread and this time it worked (the trick, use the Kid's room to let the bread rise).  I just made it this morning.  Its already gone.  3 slices are for dinner, 2 slices I used for a sandwich.  I had to taste it this morning..  and E just decided she needed a piece.  That leaves one little piece left.

What have I done?  I need more flour.  The recipe is so freaking simple that I have no issue making it.  The only issue is that it is gone the minute I make it.  I'm just happy it does get eaten..

Saturday, February 11, 2012

We LIVE Hockey.. its Buffalo!!


Me and the girl child at a Sabre's hockey game.  This is something I am very fortunate to be able to do for her. I won the tickets and when I can win them, I take her.  I never went to a hockey game as a kid because the tickets were so expensive.  So are these ones.  There is NO WAY I'd buy tickets to see a game in the seats we have (they are really nice seats... just about center ice).  

But what kills me is the price of the food.  $4 for just about all the food and pop.  $4 for a freaking bottle of pop.  Really?  But hey..  I take her maybe once or twice a season so I will splurge on it.  But anyone who has season tickets...  how the heck can you afford to eat there?

And parking????  $15 -$20 for parking right near the arena.  You can chance it by parking near the arena on the side streets but with the recent snow, that was going to be a challenge.  So our other option was to park further North near the convention center and either park free on the street on in the ramp. We had to go with the ramp because all the free parking was taken (Auto show was going on too!).  $5 for parking isn't so bad.  And we got to take the train down which is always an adventure for the kiddo.  

All in all, we had a good night.  Girls night at the Hockey game.  Now, we defrost. Its cold out there!

Friday, February 03, 2012

Bread!!!

Bread!!! on Twitpic

Bread!!! Look! I made Bread!!

Its the No Knead Recipe and I've made this before. So yummy and easy. I want it.. now. But no.. Its too hot to eat. Drat.