No More Plans!

My smart phone was one of the first generation smart phones or very close to it. I have had my little Droid Eris for just about three and a half years which is well past the lifetime of any modern day smart phone it seems. I am content with functional and don't usually need all the fancy things. Well my phone is so old it is basically a brick. I couldn't add apps, couldn't download most anything, and I was paying for it still. I said this is stupid.

My friend Adam had talked to me about NET10 back in December when he was visiting and it sounded like a cool idea, I just had to get warmed up to it. Basically it's this: no contacts, month to month, unlimited everything (for my purposes anyway), and cheaper than current phone plan by a lot. So what's the catch? You do have to pay for your phone. Yes the real price and not some discounted "deal" which you end up paying for in your service plan 8 times over.

We did some math and it was actually cheaper to pay the cancellation fee with our old service provider than to wait out the contract terms which ought to tell you the price difference we are talking here. Under our currently family plan we got only 700 minutes and the smallest data package for 2 people. The bill (with discount) was just under $150 each month. Our new plan, unlimited talk, text, and data (for what we use it will be unlimited) is just $85 a month. Um, yeah let me think about this... Done. New phones are expensive, but when you stop and think about how much you still pay for a phone with "discount" for anything remotely newish, it's not that much different. So if I am going to pay $100-200 anyway, I can justify spending the remaining amount to get a phone to have a cheaper monthly bill. Especially if this one lasts as long.

That sounds risky right? Well my thought was this, I now own the phone. If this prepaid provider doesn't work for us, we can just buy a new $10 SIM card and try again. No contact means no obligation to stay. I can also go back to another big box place if I wanted but no contact needed. You get contracts to offset the cost of the phone, if you have one then that solves that issue. Overall, I couldn't find a reason to not try it. We will see how it goes!

And because I love my new phone, I have written this blog entry from it with an app I previously couldn't ever have on my old phone. Neat!

Victory!

So I wanted to follow up on my race status since the last post on my Movement from the Couch.  I have in fact completed both races, the 5K and the 4 Miler.  I am proud to say that I was able to run both the whole way!  I am not only impressed with completing those races, but my time for both wasn't half bad either.

Wounded Warrior 5K (aka - LM 5K)

So in my first for real race ever, I was mostly on time for the start.  I managed to get there, get out of the car, and find my posse I was going to start with with a handful of minutes to spare.  No one was under any illusion that we would run the whole race together.  Especially considering some flat out told me they would run the first short bit, be it a block or a mile and then walk the rest of the race.  :)  No hard feelings for sure.  By the end of the first hill we were all split up.  I fell somewhere in the middle of our group and just kept on trucking.  I have to say, the layout of this race did nothing for me.  It was an out and back (as people in the running business call it) which I have decided aren't my favorite, but for this one I couldn't remember where I had been running on the way out, so I didn't know where I was going on the way back.  That's just as annoying because you think you should know, you were only just there.  The course was anything but flat, so that also had some annoyance factor.  I think about half of the second mile was straight uphill.  The second half was at least downhill, but still not enough of a boost for all that uphill.  Haha.

Anywho, the overall weather was nice.  It felt too cool to run without a long sleeve shirt, but really, I didn't need it after about the first mile, but my bib was on there, so I couldn't just take it off.  Lesson learned.  :)

My overall time for that race was a 35:57, which put me at an 11:25 mile.  Way faster than I was hoping for, so that made me feel pretty giddy.  As for my first race, it was small, uncomplicated, and just a way to get out there and get timed.  :)

Mother's Day 4 Miler

How nuts must have I have been to sign up for a 4 mile race a week after finishing my first 5K?  My friend Megan had talked me into doing this race with her with all kinds of encouragement, "You'll be fine.  If you can run 5K, you can totally do 4 miles."  In the back of my head I was thinking, are you high?  Haha.  I am thinking of this from the perspective of a person who couldn't run a mile in February, so 4 miles seemed a bit of a tall order.  I went into this race thinking, ok, if I have to it's ok to walk.  My personal goal was to go at least 3 miles since I had demonstrated that I could handle that without many issues last weekend.  When I got to the third mile, I was thinking, "Ok, cool, well you can walk anytime now and no shame."  The back of my brain was like, seriously?  You can do this, get your butt up that hill and get on with it!   The back of my brain won out in the end.  I managed to pull it together for the last hill and finish the race without walking.  Totally shocked about that, but still kind of an ego boost.  "I CAN DO IT!"

So the overall results for my 4 mile status: finished in 46:49, which breaks down to an 11:42 mile.  I thought that was pretty fantastic for adding an additional 0.9 miles to my longest run which was only last week.  This also earned me 46 active minutes on my pedometer which topped off my max points for the day and earned me a badge of "Busy Bee" for having 45 active minutes in one day.  Winning!

So now I am an official running fool.  Onward ho!

Will It Grow?

It's been a long long time since I have lived in any one place to be really "settled" in.  In fact, now that I think about it, the last time I was in one place this long I was in high school.  Wow.  I guess that enhances the reason of why I am so excited about my garden project.  It's been forever since it was even a possibility!

My father is a farmer.  He grew up on a dairy farm and has basically had a farm, tractors, land to play on most of his adult life.  I know how delicious food from a garden can be and have wanted to have a mini garden of my own for a long time.  Even growing herbs seems to be a challenge around here with cats.  This year I decided to get serious about it and figure out what I wanted to plant and how.  I called my dad and said, "I have room on my deck that gets good sun, what can I grow?"  The answer was apparently a lot.

This is my year of experiments.  I plan to take notes on what grows well, what doesn't have a hope and a prayer for making it on the deck, and how much of any one thing I really need.  I went to the garden supply store in March and purchased starter soil, containers, and seeds.  A lot of them.  I think the whole thing came to about $50?  I figured there's something to that 'strength in numbers' philosophy, so I planted a bunch of them.  Probably more than was necessary, but that whole survival rate can be tricky.  There were a few things that had a terrible success rate; oregano - zero, catnip - one plant made a come back, dianthus and carnations are running at about 2 plants each. 

Most people think I am nuts that I am growing everything from seeds.  Apparently, getting starter tomato plants is the preferred method.  What do I know?  Seeds were $1.69/pack with the potential for 24 plants.  I had time and space, so give it a whirl.  If it does work out, I am out $5 for the containers, dirt and seeds.  I am ok with that investment risk.  So far about half have made it and of those, I am not sure which are going to thrive in the transplanting process.  I tell myself the solution will be to just buy the starter plants everyone else buys and call it a day.  :)

So what did I decide to grow?  I am so glad you asked!  Here's what's growing so far:
Heritage Tomatoes
Roma Tomatoes
Peppers
Jalapeno Peppers
Romaine Lettuce
Butter crunch lettuce
Spinach
Radishes
Green Beans
Peas
Green Onions
Parsley
Basil (also sad growth rate, but I have 3 tiny plants)

The radishes and peppers are doing very well, the tomatoes had a lot of struggling seedlings, but they are in the zone where they may make it.  I am planning on also planting a hill of cucumbers for giggles.  I am probably most excited about the lettuces because we do eat so much of them.  It would be wonderful to have a good crop to save some money there.  I am planting waves of those to have them available all summer/fall long.   

So, the ultimate question - Will it Grow? should be answered over the summer.  I'll keep you posted!

Parenting, The First Year

We celebrated my son's birthday just a few days ago.  It's really true, time does fly.  I have no idea where that first year went.  I can say that with ease looking back on it, but during the day to day, many of them felt too long.  A year ago I was just leaving the hospital with this little person who needed me for absolutely everything.  I am glad to say we have come a long way, after many sleepless nights, crying, and seemingly never ending days.

So I was trying to think about what's happened in the last year.  Sometimes it just seems like this is always how it was and other days there are glimpses of what life was like before a baby.  I still don't feel like a parent.  I don't know when that happens, but I am sure it's around the same time they start verbalizing that more (mama, dada, etc).  I know I am responsible for a little man and I worry about him pretty much always and maybe that's what it feels like to be a parent.  I wouldn't know.

But if I stop and think of all the things my son has accomplished over the year, it really is quiet amazing.  He went from being this helpless tiny bundle to a babbling, cruising, drooling toddler.  His first word was kitty ("Gigi") and he current favorite toy is a dustpan and small dust broom.  He still doesn't like getting ready for bed, but he does like bath time most of the time.  He thinks flushing the toilet is a riot and playing in the cat water dish is just something to do when mom and dad aren't looking.  He knocks over Sparky on a routine basis, but has learned to start petting him nicely ("Be nice to kitty"). He has four teeth and is working on the next two.  He loves macaroni and cheese.

He really has been a wonderful baby, but I am not going to lie, those first 6 months were the hardest.  Months 6-9 were a little easier, but we were still getting up in the middle of the night for feeding.  At month 9 we slept through the night and it was glorious.  We have been enjoying pretty much solid sleep for a good 3 months, although now it feels like we never got up in the middle of the night.  It's amazing what you get used to and how fast you get used to it.  At month 9, I stopped pumping during the day and at month 11, I stopped nursing altogether.  That had it's pluses and minuses.  We saved a load of money on formula and washing bottles, but it was demanding and it's a sole source job. 

We still have a hard time leaving the house with everything he needs.  Diapers, wipes, emergency pacifier if he gets out of control, change of clothes, snacks, water bottle, food, bottles, toys, stroller if needed.  Of course you also have to plan around naps.  We are still at a solid two naps which I think is great.  They are great when you need to get household stuff done, but they are a pain when you need to go places.  Usually we can plan it so he is in the car for at least one of the nap times, but we are rarely in the car long enough to make it really count.  It's a give and take thing. 

So the first year is over and we survived.  I think that's really what the first birthday celebration is all about.  :)  The good mews is I remember a lot more of the laughs and smiles than the really bad days (and we have had them).  I think that's why people end up with a second.  Haha! 

Movement from the Couch

So I thought it might be nice to give an update on my attempts with the "Couch to 5K" program I started earlier this year (see earlier post of the subject here).  I re-read that post before starting this one and I have to say, that leap to 5 minutes, while intense mentally, my body was able to handle.  I was shocked that I didn't feel like passing out immediately afterwards either! 

I am proud to say I am still with the program and did not abandon ship at week 4 when I went up to 5 minutes of running.  I have now completed week 6 and am up to 22 minutes of running!  For whatever reason this seems to be working.  I think it's all in how this program is set up.  They really do take you from the wading pool into the deep end but at gradual stages.  I know for a fact if I had tried to just all out run for 20 minutes at the start, I would have said, "Eff this! I am going back to my couch!"  Someone was onto something when they created this.

I do find that I have more energy when I am done with a workout.  I know it's only going to be about 40 minutes from the time I leave my door until the time I get back so that helps a lot.  It's also been nice to see that I can handle an increase in physical activity with the increase in duration of running periods.  I must be building endurance/muscle to be able to handle it.  I didn't think my body was capable of that!  Shows what I know!

On these last few where I have done straight running for 20 and 22 minutes, I find it hard to keep my brain from going completely stupid on me.  I now understand why people listen to music and how that might make the workout go a bit faster.  Right now I just count in my head, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc until I get to 100 then  reset back to 1.  I count to help keep my pace right, but I probably don't need to for the entire 20+ minutes.  I just have no idea what else to do with myself while I am plodding along.  I people watch of course and pay attention to my surroundings, but from a multi-tasker, I find it hard to basically just be doing ONE thing. 

On the equipment investment, I am up to about $130 for new sneakers which were literally life changing and a pair of capri running pants.  They are super fabulous and comfortable too.  I didn't think the sneakers would make THAT much of a difference, but again, how wrong I was.  They made it feel more light on my feet.  I guess that's called support.  Haha.  The folks at Potomac River Running Company were really helpful.  They are also really big sponsors for races in the area (some right by my house) and host a number of them throughout the year. 

The crazy thing I saw the other day was a blog about motivation and fitness and something like the top 5 things to get into a routine and make it stick.  I usually scoff at these lists because they tend to be full of stupid things, but the one I found interesting was the, "Find your reason".  This may seem like a no brainer, but it made sense why they had it listed.  The reasons, "for something to do" or "I want to be healthy" probably aren't going to get you too far.  You really should make it as specific as possible.  I also want to be healthy, but I want to be healthy for my family and to be able to move and do what I need to in order to keep up with my young son.  I don't want to be the playground parent that sits on the bench and watches their kid play around.  I would much rather be the parent playing WITH my kid.  That is a specific reason and has significant meaning to me.  I am reminded every day when I hold my son or chase after him when he crawls.  He is a happy reminder that I am doing this for the right reasons for me. Might not be for everyone, but hey, you have to find YOUR reason. :)

 So far it's been working out and I hope it continues.  I have a tentative race lined up for 3 weeks from yesterday, when I should be wrapping up the training program.  We will see how close I get when I do the actual 5K race!

Freezer Meal Review

This is a review of one of the 4 freezer meals I used from the internet via Pinterest.  The original post can be found here.  The meal we made a few weeks ago was the Creamy Farmhouse Chicken and Garden Soup.  To be honest, I had high hopes for this meal, but it failed on multiple levels.  So bad in fact two nights of leftovers in, I just threw out the rest because I just couldn't bring myself to eat anymore and I NEVER do that.  So what went wrong?

First, I think the title is misleading.  This was not creamy in any way.  Maybe I have different standards or my crockpot just keeps things really moist, but it was more watery which was my first issue with it.  My second issue was I had completely forgotten that I had to put in 2 bone-in chicken thighs.  So there were surprise bones.  The time lapse between preparing the freezer meal and actually eating it was maybe 2 months tops, so it wasn't like it was ancient history.  So I had to pick through a very messy assortment of vegetables to find all the pieces which basically fall apart when cooked in the crockpot.  The third thing was this meal had an odd flavor to me and by odd flavor I mean in terms of spices.  This seems weird to me because I like all the ones it calls for, it just didn't hit my taste buds right.  The overall presentation of the meal left something to be desired too.  There were a lot of floating bits of chicken like when you boil a chicken breast so that was not too appealing.  It was more or less a glorified chicken noodle soup.  If I am going to put that much effort in, I would rather have something tastier.

So, this concludes my reviews from all the freezer meals from that blog post.  I think the ratings are as follows:
Pork and Veggies - Probably would be better with the modifications I made, but probably won't do that one again.
Chicken Tikka Masala - Delicious, just makes a ton.  Definitely redo.
Creamy Farmhouse Chicken and Garden Soup - Clearly a no.
Beef Burritos - Came out well, may redo.  We don't eat too much beef and have a recipe for chicken taco meat that's a bit easier. (6 boneless skinless chicken breasts, 1 jar of salsa, and a packet of taco seasoning mix, place in crockpot on low for 6-8 hours, shred chicken with fork)

If people wanted meals to try I would definitely suggest the Chicken Tikka Masala and the  Beef Burritos (or chicken tacos).  I am still waiting to see how my creations came out.  One should be in rotation this week, but with me feeling kind of under the weather, our meal plans went out the window last night.  Such a fine balance between having leftovers when you need them and time to make a meal when you have to.     

Happy cooking!     

Spring Wreath

I am beginning to wonder if Pinterest isn't funded through places like Michael's, AC Moore, Hobby Lobby and Jo-Ann Fabrics.  I feel like anytime I see something cool on there, I am usually ending up at one of these place to do said cool project.  Today was no exception.  Granted, I did want to go to Michael's to get Colin a decent Easter basket, but I didn't NEED to buy the other items until I saw a pin on Spring Wreaths. 

We have a fall wreath, a seashell wreath, and then usually something Christmas-y for the door during December.  I lack other wreaths to fill the front door during the spring and late winter.  I was inspired by this pin (website) for my design.  I still think that one looks a little nicer, but hey, this is wreath number two I have ever made, so I think it came out ok. 

Inspired and ready to go, I headed off to Michael's to buy supplies.  My sad hot glue gun, wires, and pliers were in stock in my closet, but I needed a new wreath ($4), flowers ($5), and some bling ($6).  If I had held out (read - had the patience), this project would have been a bit cheaper, but for a $15 investment, I thought it was worth getting everything at once.  I did save 20% on everything at least (hooray coupon!).

I basically just watched TV and puttered until I got a look I thought was decent.  Then I got the hot glue gun going and starting making it permanent.  After the flowers were in, I placed the butterflies where I thought they would look the best and then added the beads in various spots for sparkle.

Overall I thought it turned out pretty cute.  If I had wanted to spend more on the flowers I am sure it would have changed the nature of the wreath, but not too shabby for $15 and an hour of my time for the end of the weekend.  And now we have something for our door for the spring.  I am sure the neighbors will appreciate a bit of brightness in this dreary wannabe spring weather (currently wintery mix falling from the sky - hooray).

Couch to 5K

I have never been a real big fan of routine exercise unless we are talking yoga.  I could do that 5 times a week if only I could go to a studio and practice with people.  Have you ever tried to do yoga with cats around?  I assure you it adds a whole other dimension to your workout.  That being said, I have surprised myself with taking a recent interest in running.  Anyone that knows me would probably recall me poo-pooing the whole idea of running at some point in fitness conversations.  "Why would you want to do that to yourself?"  "How can running that long be good for you?" "You want to do a marathon?  Are you on drugs?!" 

I think having a kid puts your health in perspective.  I have been more physically active since having him and he isn't even walking yet.  It's only going to get harder from here on out.  I want to be the mom that can keep up (somewhat) with my kid(s) and enjoy spending time with them playing and running around.  And personally, I am tired of being the person who seems to be the only one who is struggling when we go for a hike or similar activity. 

So I have heard a lot about this program called "Couch to 5K" which inspires people like me who are essentially couch potatoes when it comes to running and getting them the ability to run a 5K.  They have a 9 week program which gradually walks you through the beginning and works you up to a 5K distance/time.  Straight from the web page: "Too many people have been turned off of running simply by trying to start off too fast. Their bodies rebel, and they wind up miserable, wondering why anyone would possibly want to do this to themselves."  Oh hells yes I may have done that once or twice. 

My problem always was finding a running partner that was actually at my pace.  Don't they say to get a workout partner to make you accountable?  Silly idiots.  I would tell people, "Umm, I am not very good at this and I don't run fast."  I would eagerly be greeted by "Oh me either!  It'll be fun!"  And so off we go and I was always the one, without fail, who wanted to die 10 minutes in.  I would think, ok, if this is my "this is really hard" and they are still moving and getting on with what appears to be at least 75% more ease than me, I must really suck at this.  Which eventually leads to - why bother?  Talk about demotivation.

So I have finally said, screw this, I'll figure out how to do this on my own and for ME.  So I finally looked into the program which is spelled out pretty clearly on the website and gave it some serious thought.  I was finally kicked in the rear when I found a 3 mile path that went right by our door.  Ok, this is it!  To really talk myself into this, I did the whole 3 miles walking and figured out the absolute maximum time it would take to complete.  For some reason my brain works better if I can plan out the maximum time rather than the actual time.  So I did the 3 miles in just under an hour so I knew that it would probably take less time than that for any workout and thus could form a plan of attack.

I have completed 3 weeks (although it's taken me about 5 due to weather and other nonsense) so far and I am excited and scared to start week 4.  I thought running for 3 minutes was a huge accomplishment, 5 seems a bit of a leap.  I might be repeating week 3 for a while.  But that's the beauty of this program.  You can set your own pace and expectation level. 

I think it's amazing I am still attempting any of this.  I got out in the coldest crappiest weather (for here) in the middle of February including one day in the cold rain, and I still want to do this.  I think spring is going to be down right delightful after what I have been out in.  At the end of the day, I want to be able to go out for 30 minutes, 3 times a week and get the recommended fitness box checked.  Do something to prolong my youthful years and if I loose weight and build muscle tone, all the better.

As a side note, I think it's hilarious how much physical activity can cost you once you think you really want to be "into it".  I am going to get fitted for a pair of running shoes for the first time ever.  I usually just pull a pair off the rack and say, ok, close enough!  But apparently, having the right shoes (and more importantly, the right fit) help a lot.  Since I am still going on this, I figure I can go ahead and make that investment.  And of course, buy new running capris and various other accessories.  Although I will say, March appears to be the time to buy fitness things because it's all on clearance now.  I guess if they didn't get you for New Year's Resolutions, they have already lost their top profit margin period.  Hahaha.

Happy trails!

Fettuccine Carbonara

I apparently am on a Foodie kick lately.  In a sort of panic on what to make for dinner Sunday, I asked my husband to pick something.  He came up with Fettuccine Carbonara which seemed to hit the mark for quickness to put together and the food mood we were in.  I am not from an Italian family, but there's something about a big pasta meal on Sunday that just seems right.

Fettuccine Carbonara
6 slice of bacon diced
1/4 cup of onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, pressed
3 eggs
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes (this makes it spicy which we like, but you can dial it back if it's too much for you)
1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
1 pound Fettuccine (we actually had half a box of linguine and half a box of thin spaghetti, worked fine)

Put the water on the for the pasta.
Place bacon, onion and garlic in a medium frying pan over low heat for 12 minutes.
Boil pasta for 6-8 minutes.
Meanwhile, whisk the eggs in a small bowl.  Add the Parmesan cheese, red pepper and black pepper.

When pasta is done, drain and place in a large bowl.  Pour the bacon mixture over the pasta and toss quickly.  Then immediately add in the egg mixture and toss to coat.  Serve and enjoy!

It might not be the fanciest version of this meal, but it sure was delightful!  I was so thankful we actually had bacon in the house which made this meal possible.  Kind of makes it a case to always have bacon in the house.  Haha.

Parmesan Chicken

So as promised, here's the second meal I choose to freeze using the LDMM.  This recipe comes from my sister and I am sure it's going to be excellent.  So without further ado, here we go!  These are her exact notes:

One of the things that can be dispiriting about skinless, boneless chicken breasts is that they lack the luscious contrast between crisp golden skin and moist, tender meat.  Not here.  Use English muffin crumbs and Parmesan cheese to make a coating for the chicken.  This is classic comfort food without too much fat.  The chicken can marinate in the mustard mixture, covered and refrigerated, for up to 2 hours.

3 Tablspoons Dijon mustard (or any favorite mustard)
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar (or we use just white vinegar for some kick)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly, ground black pepper
6 small skinless, boneless chicken breasts, rinsed and patter dry (scant 2 pounds total - To get this, we just took 3 big chicken breasts and cut them in half, and when I say we, I mean my husband did this part while I was pulsing cumbs)

1 1/2 English Muffins
3/4 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (she recommends the fresh stuff, not the can, but I think either would work, just fresh is best))
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 Tablespoon melted butter
1-2 Tablespoons fresh herbs if desired - parsley, rosemary, thyme, sage, etc (I used a bit of fried mixed Italian herbs)

White together the marinade in a large bowl.  Add chicken, tossing well to coat. (This is where I put everything into a Gallon size Freezer bag and label it "Chicken Marinade" and set aside).

Pulse English muffins in a food processor until finely ground.  Add cheese, butter and black pepper.  Pulse until well combined.  Transfer to shallow dish or pie plate.  (This is where I put the crumb mixture into another Gallon size Freezer bag and label it "Breading" and set aside).

Put both of those Freezer bags into another Gallon size Freezer bag.  Also include a packet of potatoes (Betty Crocker) and a frozen vegetable of your choice for 4 servings.  On the outside of the bag write the instructions:
Preheat oven to 450*.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Dredge chicken one piece at a time in crumbs, coating completely and pressing gently so crumbs adhere then transfer to baking sheet.  Bake until golden brown, and cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.

Ta da!  Another meal ready for the freezer which hopefully will make another easy night of dinners.  I would guess the time to make this meal from start to finish would be about 30 minutes (10 minute oven warm up used to prep chicken and then cook time can be used to prep side dishes).

Stocking The Freezer

So in my mission to not have to be in the kitchen as much during the coming months, I took it upon myself (with my husband as my sous chef - he did excellent!) to identify some meals for freezing now to cook later.  This time I broke away from the crock pot theme and tried to go for something more like the Let's Dish version of freezing meals.  For those who do not know Let's Dish is a place you make your own meals for freezing which you can cook either in the oven, on the stove, or sometimes the crock pot too.  They have all the food and recipes ready for you with cooking instructions, so you basically just assemble your meals.  I love the concept and I have been twice (thank you Groupon!), but I do find it a bit pricey.  It's not completely outrageous, but it does require you dropping about $25 a meal (serves 5-6). You get a lot of food and the convenience factor, but being me, I'll figure out how to recreate it at home.

So, I picked two easier meals which I think will come out just fine with the Let's Dish Meal Method.  Maybe I out to abbreviate that, LDMM.  Ok, I am going to go with that. The first batter up; Pork Tenderloins with Pan Sauce which I wrote about a while ago on the topic of Pinterest.  It was pretty fabulous and some of the recent meals I have used from Let's Dish (I am shortening that too - LD) have been pork in a marinade which you cook in the oven plus some kind of side dish with it.  So I figured this would be perfect to try it out.  I mean honestly, how often do we think, oh I have time to marinade that?  With a baby in the house, I can assure you that train of thought goes right out the window.  So here's the recipe from Chef Mommy  (My notes are in italics):

Ingredients (for marinade):
1⁄2 cups olive oil
1⁄3 cup soy sauce
1⁄4 cup red wine vinegar
Juice of 1 lemon (this is about 1 tablespoon if you just have juice like myself)
1-2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1-2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped (I used dried)
2 tsp dry mustard
Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 1-lb. pork tenderloin (silver skin removed) (In my opinion this is a lot of marinade for 1 tenderloin, I did 2 tenderloins somewhere between 2-3 pounds and it was still plenty)

Directions:
Combine all marinade ingredients and reserve 2-3 Tbsp (I reserved 4-6 Tbsp since I used two pork tenderloins instead of one). Place the pork tenderloin and marinade in a Gallon size Freezer Ziplock bag and let marinate for at least 3-4 hours. (It will marinate while thawing, so have no fear, it'll still be a happy pork tenderloin in the end).  I put the pork and marinade in the bag and write "Pork Marinade" on it.  
In another Quart size Freezer bag, I put enough frozen peas for 4-5 servings.
In another Quart size Freezer bag, I put the ingredients for the Pan Sauce (and label it as such):

Ingredients for Pan Sauce:
Pan scrapings from pork tenderloin (will come when you actually do the cooking)
1/2 cup (~1 cup, maybe less, I think you don't need as much, maybe go 3/4 - 1 cup) of chicken broth
2-3 tbsp (4-6 Tbsp) of pork marinade (thoroughly mixed)
1-2 tsp (1 Tbsp) butter

I also write the instructions (or an abbreviated version of them) for making the pan sauce on this bag (I realize it says to add chicken broth first to get up brown bits - I rarely have brown bits because I use non-stick pans, but you could freeze the chicken broth separately OR just add it in if you always have it in your pantry.  Just use your best judgement.  I think it's not going to overly affect the outcome so I just tossed it all together.  You may feel differently.):
Meanwhile, place the skillet back on the stove over medium heat. Add the chicken broth and scrape up all the browned pieces from the bottom of the pan. Add the marinade and let it boil down for 2-3 minutes. Add the butter and remove from heat stirring until butter has melted. Pour over the pork tenderloin.

I put all 3 of those bags plus a packet of Better Crocker Potato flakes (with the name and ingredients need listed on that bag in marker) into another Gallon size Freezer bag (yes it will fit :) ).  Then I wrote the following instructions on the outside of that bag:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a hot skillet over medium-high heat, sear each side of tenderloin for 2-3 minutes. Place in the oven and cook for 30-40 minutes or until the meat has reached 160 degrees. Let rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing.

***When defrosting, remove peas and keep frozen.  Remove the potatoes and set on counter, otherwise the bag will get damp from moisture from the thawing process. I think it would be protected since the bag is kind of foil lined, but if you can remove it first, that would probably be better.

So in the end you will have a bag that looks like this:

It's full, but it's a pre-packaged meal ready for action whenever you need it.  If you had thawed this bag out, I think it would probably take an hour start to finish to have your meal ready.  And yes, sure, we usually have peas and probably would have the potatoes on hand, but ya know what?  They are now sitting happy with this meal and there's no guessing or relying on the old memory bank (which seems to be spotty lately) for making sure you have the other food to go with your main dish.  And maybe you aren't like us with random pantry staples and it would be a really good idea to have everything together and ready.  Either way, I like this method, it allows you to just grab and go.  Maybe you'll like it too. :)

I'll share the next LDMM recipe in my next post.

DIY Coasters

I decided to take a stab at making some kind of fun coasters last weekend.  I have had the scrapbook paper on hand for a few months (6 sheets for $1 sale - wohoo!).  I finally picked up some 4x4 tiles at Home Depot after a long hiatus from that store.  Do you ever notice how you can just drop $100 in there without much trouble?  Of course, buying random things you have put off for months probably doesn't help.


ANYWHO!  Here we go.  Materials needed are as follows:

4 - 4x4 tiles
1 - piece of scrapbook paper
Mod Podge

Tools:
Pencil
Scissors
Foam brush for Mod Podge






Trace out your 4x4 tiles onto your paper.

 

 Cut out the paper.

 

I recommend doing a dry run fit test before applying the Mod Podge.  I had to trim down my pieces to get them to fit.  Once you have the size you want, apply a thin layer of Mod Podge with your sponge brush.

 Apply your paper and smooth out all the bubbles.

 Once the paper has had a chance to set, apply another thin coat over the top.

 And there you have it, one of a kind coasters.

Total investment for this project $1.68 ($0.16/tile, $0.17 paper, $0.87 for foam brush).  You could go a step further and put felt circles on the bottom to protect you surfaces, but if you don't care then you are done.   I honestly don't think there's a cheaper DIY project that doesn't look like a 4 year old colored on construction paper.  :)  Enjoy!

Trio Mio Favorites

I watch The Flog that Felicia Day hosts usually once a weekish.  Part of her broadcast is a thing called Trio Mio.  It used to be the Fav Five, but then she decided that Trio Mio was a better list, so umm, we got stuck with it.  A full collection of these can be found here: http://pinterest.com/geekandsundry/trio-mio-things/ 
Please note, not all have been posted here.

Anywho, I have been entertained more than once by the Trio Mio selection and let me just say the holiday edition of the Flog host by Robin was hilarious and I loved them all.  And in fact, she went all out and did 4 because well, she was hosting and that means she can do what she wants.  I heart Robin.  Here she is!



My favorite link from this episode was the Stacked Wines she was drinking.  What a fun invention! That's what you bring to a party!

Here are some other favorites from the Trio Mio's over the last year.

The Product Farm - Really cool products like cereal to go, Skittles dispensers, wine sippy cups.  BUT the really cool thing is if you have an idea for something that you can't find anywhere or no one has ever made it, these guys will make it for you!  How awesome is that?

Jigidi - Do you like to waste time on the internet?  Well this website is an assortment of pictures which you can solve as puzzles!  I love puzzles, but I don't have the space for them and now I have a little one that would rather eat the pieces than let me use them to finish my masterpiece, so yeah.  Way better option and a lot of fun!

LittleBits - Straight from their website "littleBits is an opensource library of electronic modules that snap together with magnets for prototyping, learning and fun."  I think this would be perfect for kids to get them interested in math and science.  And for us geeky adults that want nifty play things. 

Pixton - For you creative folk, maybe you want to make your own comic strip!  This would be the place to test your talents and see if you have what it takes to write a comic. 

Written Kitten - And lastly, something for the writers of the world out there.  Maye you need motivation to write and maybe your motivation would be getting rewarded by a picture of a kitten every 100, 200, 500, or 1,000 words.  This could be your cure for writers block!

For a complete list of episodes and their Trio Mio listing go here: http://theflog.geekandsundry.com/episodes/

My New Project... 1.5 years later

You may or may not remember these beautiful Craigslist finds I purchased back in July of 2011.

As hideous as they are, you would have thought that might have motivated me a bit to get them covered or reupholstered or SOMETHING.  And yet, here we are cruising towards two years of ownership in their glorious pink state. 

I finally found some inspiration to make these something I am proud to have in my home.  Pinterest (what did we do before Pinterest I wonder?) had shown me this person who took the time to link their chair re-upholstery project to their blog.  Someone probably pinned that, which someone else pinned and so on until I pinned it.  I couldn't believe it.  It was like my chairs long lost triplet!  Here's the blog link for those who are interested.

I saw that and I knew, that was THE project for 2013.  It has to get done.  I went to my favorite place for all things crafty - Jo-Ann Fabrics.  What do you know?  They were having a 50% foam sale.  Don't mind if I do!  I bought enough to cover the two chairs for the 1 inch stuff and enough for 1 seat cushion (got towards the end of the sale, pickings were slim).  I had purchased enough to qualify me for an additional 30% off my purchase of sale or clearance items the following week.  Awesome!  I spent so much time picking out the foam and looking at fabric that I didn't have time to look at the batting.  So I went back and bought the already 50% off batting for an additional 30% off.  SWEET!  The only thing we have left to settle on is the fabric.  Right now that is 60% off.  IF I had my act together I would have been able to use that additional 30% off of the fabric too, but you can't have it all right?  The fabric my husband and I both liked is no longer available (what I get for waiting on making a purchase).  So now we are back to the drawing board.

So far total investments:
$10 for the chairs
$94.93 for the foam so far and tack remover
$38.07 for the batting and two 16x16 pillows
-$50 in gift cards (hooray Christmas!)

Left to buy:
Fabric
Foam for 1 seat ($22)
Staples
Cardboard Tack Strips
Metal Tack Strips
Curve Ease
Cording

My goal is to do both chairs for under $250, but it will probably be closer to $300 when I am done.  That leaves $157 left in my budget.  I am trying to keep my fabric pricing down, but we will see how I do.  That's going to be the part that may break me.  *fingers crossed*

A New Kind of Sweet Roll

Here it is Sunday morning again and we tested out a new recipe for our breakfast collection and I believe we have a winner.  I pinned this tasty treat from inspired by charm Nutella Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing.  If you are like me, you are probably thinking, how could that possibly be anything but deliciousness?!  Let me tell you, it was amazing.  And the upside is they really don't take that long to put together!  Using the canned biscuits saves a LOT of time.  Thank you Pillsbury! 

Here's the recipe so you don't have to click another link just to get it.

Nutella Rolls
Makes 8, Prep time 15 minutes, Bake 15-20 minutes

Rolls:
1 can Pillsbury Grands Biscuits
3/4 - 1 cup Nutella (I just eyeballed this)
Flour and Sugar for rolling
*For a variation I bet you could try jam or marmalade in place of Nutella and still get an amazing breakfast sweet roll.

Cream Cheese Icing:
4oz Cream Cheese (softened)
1 tsp Vanilla
1 1/2 cups Powdered Sugar

Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees and spraying eight sections of a muffin pan with cooking or baking spray (or use your reusable muffing cups).

Lightly flour and sugar your surface. Michael likes to sweeten the dough with the sugar.  You really don't need it, but it just adds something.

 Roll out your biscuits until they are about double in size.  Spread Nutella on them, like I said I eyeballed this part.  If you love Nutella, I guess you could just spread it on thick.

 The next step he took better pictures of, but you'll roll them up and cut them into thirds.  Then take those three piece and stand them up in a muffin tin (or cups in my case).

Place these in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown on top.

 While those are in the oven, you can whip up you icing.  Just blend the 3 ingredients together until creamy.  You'll have plenty to put a healthy dose of icing on all of them, in fact I had left over.  Once the rolls have cooled enough, frost them and gobble them down.  Be warned, you may want seconds!

Freezer Meals - Review #1

A short while ago I did a blog entry on freezer meals and the recipes I chose from the great pool of internet choices.  We decided to thaw and make the one I was least excited about - Pork and Veggies.  I wanted variety and try to expand my food diversity some.  For a review here's the recipe:

Pork and Veggies

1 lb Pork Roast, cut into 1/2 inch strips
1 Onion, chopped
1 Green Bell Pepper, sliced
4 Carrots, sliced
½ pound Fresh Mushrooms, sliced
1 8oz can Tomato Sauce
1.5 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
1 tsp Salt
2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce

Combine ingredients in a large ziptop bag, freeze. Thaw contents of bag and place in a slow cooker. Cook on low 6-8 hours. Serve over hot rice. Serves approx. 5-6 people.

* Again I put all of these ingredients into a 1-gallon freezer bag, then 1.5 cups of rice into a sandwich bag and both of those into another 1-gallon freezer bag.

Pros
Does indeed make enough for 5-6 people.  My husband had enough for close to 4 full meals out of this.  

The 1.5 cups of dry rice was perfect.

Definitely moist.

Cons
Kind of flavorless.  I am not sure why, but looking at the ingredient list there are no spices (salt doesn't count in my book).  Some sage, thyme, or rosemary might have been a good add.

The mushrooms didn't really look like mushrooms in the end.  I used a food processor to slice them, so maybe they were too thin?  We basically had a LOT of carrots and peppers and the onions and mushrooms were kind of not there.  I would consider adding other vegetables to help balance it more.  Keep the quantities kind of even between them all.

Excessive liquid.  I am not sure why this is.  There's really not much that was added aside from the 8 oz of tomato sauce.  I might consider straining the liquid from all the other ingredients and thickening it up some with corn starch or flour. 

Updated verion

Pork and Veggies

1 lb Pork Roast, cut into 1/2 inch strips
1 Onion, chopped
2 stalks of celery, chopped
1 Green Bell Pepper, sliced
2 Carrots, sliced
2 heads of broccoli, chopped (or 1/2 - 16 ounce bag of frozen florets)
1/2 15 oz can Chicken Broth
1.5 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp rosemary
1/2 tsp thyme or sage
2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce

Combine ingredients in a large ziptop bag, freeze. Thaw contents of bag and place in a slow cooker. Cook on low 6-8 hours.

Strain liquid from the crockpot, place in small saucepan.  Add corn starch (1 tsp at a time until the consistency is right) and bring to a boil to thickened.  Pour back over pork and veggies.

Serve over hot rice. Serves approx. 5-6 people.

* Again I put all of these ingredients into a 1-gallon freezer bag, then 1.5 cups of rice into a sandwich bag and both of those into another 1-gallon freezer bag.

I can't say the recipe is "fixed", but that would be my next attempt if there were going to be one.  Not sure I will bother though.  We have another 3 meals to go and I have higher hopes for them.  

And the Nominees Are....

So, my friend Holly has nominated me for a Liebster Award!  I had no idea what it was and truth be told I was skeptical that her account may have been hacked.  How sad is that?  But I did a little research and discovered it to be a for real thing, so Awesome!  For those who are like me and wondering what in the world this is all about here's the skinny:

What is a Liebster Award? A Liebster award is given to blogs with less than 300 followers as a way of making them more well-known. The rules for the acceptance are:
1) Visit and thank the blogger who nominated you
2) Acknowledge that blogger on your blog and link back
3) Answer the 10 questions posed by the blogger who nominated you
4) Select 3 – 5 bloggers for the award
5) Pose 10 new questions to the new nominees
6) Post the award on your blog

So here are my questions from Holly:

1. How long have you been blogging? According to my archives, they tell me about 2007.  I hit my stride in 2008 when I think I had WAAAY too much free time on my hands.  Then I decided to move twice (GA-NY and NY-VA), get married, and have a baby (wow a lot has happened in 4 short years!), so free time is something of an endangered species.  I blog to share cool things I find, annoyances of the world, delicious recipes, nifty crafts, and and also to just have a place to practice writing. 

2. Morning person or night person? Before my son was born, I would say hands down night person.  Anywho who knows me knows I do not operate without a cup of coffee and/or being awake for roughly 3-5 hours before being 'cheerful' enough to talk to.  In fact, at one workplace, I had been known to grunt at people until I had been there 30 minutes or so, made and ate oatmeal and had a chance to process what it would take to be productive for the day.  Since having him, mornings haven't been the dreadful thing they once were.  When there is someone who greets me which such joy, I can't help but be happy and kind of get over my own lack of sleep just to partake in the happiness in front of me.

3. Favorite book?  I do love so many books, but the one I love to read over and over (at least once annually) is Stardust by Neil Gaiman.  It is part of the inspiration for this blog name.  I just love the tale and the world he creates in the land beyond the village of Wall.  I have not and will not ever see the movie.  My imagination has it just right in my head and I don't need Hollywood screwing it up.

4. Summer sun or winter wonderland?  Summer sun.  The days are longer, people are happier, there are more picnics and sunshine.  The Summer also compliments my love of the beach.  It's a lot more fun to be there in the warmer weather than in the cooler weather (I have done both).  There's something about putting your feet in warm sand and feeling a warm breeze on your face that just makes a person happy.  Also in the summer, there is far less hassle with the weather.  It's either sunny, breezy, or rainy so pick the appropriate jacket.  In the winter you have cold, ice, snow, and windy.  All of which need too many layers to enjoy unless you are under the age of 12.

5. What do you do in your free time?  Free time?  Ha.  My free time has been extremely reduced, but I am the queen of multi-tasking.  I also find it impossible to sit still, so I do make the most of what little time I have.  When I am watching TV I tend to use my laptop to surf the web for any number of things.  Facebook and Pinterest are frequent stops as well as any other "research" I am currently interested in.  Right now I have a "Couch to 5K:" and Online Fabric shopping tabs open.  I also enjoy working on my projects (which are piled high and deep right now, let me tell you!).  I sew a lot, mainly quilts right now. I take a lot of pictures, mostly of my son, but the cats get in on the action too, which means I also spend a lot of time uploading and purchasing photo stuff (books, cards, etc).  I love to work on the house (which has gotten surprisingly more difficult with a baby) and my next two projects are repainting hideous brass lamps and reupholstering two obnoxious pink wing back chairs, FINALLY.  I also try to read a little each day and because of my health plan at work, I am trying to get at least 7,000 steps a day on my pedometer.  Sometimes this means walking around the house in circles after Colin has gone to bed.  Thankfully I recently acquired a Kindle so I can watch older TV shows while moving around the house.  It has worked out well. 

6. Do you make New Year’s resolutions?  Yes.  I think they are a great way to think about doing something new and different.  They don't always have to be tied to a "don't" which I think is where people get stuck sometimes.  Make them small and manageable and write them down and put there where you see them everyday.  I try to use my resolution as a way to be a better person.  This year mine could have been trying not to swear like a sailor while driving in DC, but I opted for something that would help others.  I am buying and donating food monthly to a local food shelter in our area.  Before the holidays had come, I heard a news story on the radio about how much the need for food has gone up and it made me sad.  People only ever think to donate to the food pantry around Thanksgiving and Christmas.  And that's not to say it's not a good thing, but those people don't miraculously get food the other 10 months out of the year.  So I have decided to make a donation drop off once a month.  My preferred way of giving is 100% anonymous so it works out well.  I don't need a thank you, just appreciate what was given to you and that's enough for me.
 
7. Family’s favorite meal? (Share the recipe)  We have many, but here's one of our go-to favorites.

Angel Hair Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Goat Cheese
(makes 4-6 servings)
1, 10 oz. jar sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, chopped (oil reserved)
1 small onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 cup dry white wine
1 lb. angel hair pasta
3 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley (flat leaf italian parsley)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground)
3-4 oz. soft fresh goat cheese, coarsely crumbled

Heat 3 tbsp. of reserved oil from sun-dried tomatoes in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute until tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.  Add tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.  Add wine and chopped sun-dried tomatoes and simmer until liquid reduces by half, about 2 minutes.

Cook pasta according to package directions, but when you drain it, reserve 1 cup of the cooking liquid.  Add cooked pasta and parsley to the tomato mixture and toss to coat, adding some reserved pasta water to moisten.  Season pasta with salt and pepper. Place into a serving bowl and mix with crumbled goat cheese.

8. Preferred way to communicate? Email/text/call/facebook/etc It depends.  If you are a close relative, I prefer a phone call or email.  If you are a close friend, phone call, text, or email.  If we are just friends, email or Facebook.  Right now I will lean towards more written forms of communication because it allows me to write them whenever I can (in the likely event I am interrupted) and give some thought to what I am telling you.  With a baby, sometimes that routine phone call just doesn't fit in.  And besides, if I write an email, I can send pictures too. :)  Facebook is fantastic for staying in touch with people in general though.  I have a manageable number of friends, and I am interested in what they are up to.  Some share more than others, but I enjoy catching up with everyone's lives when I can sit and process through my stream. 

9. How many people/animals live in your house?  We have three people (me, my husband, and our son) and two fat cats.  In my opinion, it's a good human/animal ratio. 

10. Favorite snack food?  I am a sucker for chocolate covered pretzels.  I will eat an entire bag if I am not careful.  That whole salty/sweet combo is to die for. 

So my nominees are....
1. LaTisha over at Blushing Black keeping it real for all things fashion and beauty.  She's got an eye for style; sophisticated and fun.  We used to work together and then she got smart and is doing something way more fun, but we still keep in touch thanks to the internets. :)
2. Ryan and his crazy adventures in fatherhood, cooking, and funny stuff at Grillside Stories.  He is a  co-worker and truly has a knack for seeing the bright side of life.
3. My third would have been Holly, but as she's nominated me it'd be a never ending loop.  She is so much better at keeping her blog updated and it's always interesting bits of her and her family's life that make me smile. 

So here are my questions for you:
1. Why do you blog?
2. If you could get on a plane and go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
3. What is your favorite holiday?
4. What is your favorite vacation spot or what was your favorite vacation?
5. What do you do in your free time?
6. If you could have a super power, what would it be and why?
7. What is your favorite game (board, video, card, school yard)?
8. Cat or Dog Person?
9. What is your idea of a perfect weekend?
10. What is your all-time favorite blog entry you have written?

Many thanks again to Holly for nominating me and giving me a reason to answer fun questions and pass it onward to others.  As a result of this exercise, I realized I need to update my links of people I follow on my side bar.  I think many people have dropped the blogging routine, which is to be expected, but I just need keep it updated. :) 

Molten Chocolate Cakes

My mother-in-law visited for her birthday so she could spend the weekend with her favorite little person, her grandson.  To celebrate her birthday I told her I would make her any kind of dessert she wanted, so long as I didn't have to set it on fire.  She replied, "something chocolate".  So I thought for a short while and said "OH I KNOW!"

So I made her this:

Molten Chocolate Cakes!

They are the most decadent dessert I know how to make.  And lucky for you, you'll know know how to make them too!  The only "special" equipment you'll need are ramekins and a double boiler (which you can improvise if need be - I do).  If you don't have ramekins, the best deal I have found on them is at Pier 1 Imports of all places.  For a double boiler, you can use a regular pot filled with a couple of inches of water and setting a glass or metal (my preference) bowl on top of the water.  It'll do the same thing without add another pot to you cabinets.

Active Time: 15 minutes Total: 30-35 minutes
6 servings

2 sticks unsalted butter plus more for ramekins
1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon cake flour, plus more for dusting (I have used regular flour, so don't sweat buying special flour for such a small amount)
1/2 bittersweet chocolate, chopped (I used Ghirardelli - 70% Cocoa, usually found in the baking aisle)
1/2 cup sugar
4 large whole eggs
4 large egg yolks
Unsweetened cocoa and confectioners sugar, for dusting (to make it "pretty")
*Not listed as an ingredient, but you should definitely get vanilla ice cream to have with it

1. Preheat oven to 350*.  Butter six 4-ounce ramekin dishes and dust with flour.  This step is ubber important, make sure they are well buttered, it's how they pop out smoothly.
2. In the top on the double boiler, melt the butter and chocolate together.  Remove from heat and whisk in the sugar, whole eggs, and egg yolks.  Whisk in the flour.
3. Scrape the batter into the 6 ramekins, and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the sides of the cake are set, but the center is still slightly loose.  Let the cakes cool for 1-2 minutes and then run and spatula around the top part of them to loosen if necessary from the ramekin.  Then invert them onto plates.  Dust with cocoa powder and confectioners sugar and serve.

You can make these earlier in the day and park them in the fridge until you are ready to make them.  Just take them out for about 20-30 minutes before hand to get them to room temp.  If you want to put them in straight from the fridge, you'll need to extend the baking time accordingly.

Enjoy!

Freezer Meals

Now that we have all survived the holidays and all the chaos that comes with them, I have been buckling down on those things I have put on the back burner for the past 3 months.  One of these projects is working out how to make some freezer meals.

For those of you who aren't up on this latest fad in food prep, basically, in theory you are spending a lot of time up front for prepping these meals which you freeze and then pull them out and cook later.  Specifically I have been looking for recipes to work with crock pots.  I mean if you are really looking for a hands off cook after all that prep, there's no better way than the crock pot.  Since I upgraded the crock pot I am excited to use it all the time.

I have been using pinterest for some inspiration in picking some of recipes to use.  So I decided to start small and go with 4 options from a couple of websites.  Three were designed to be freezer meals and I kind of sort of turned a regular crock pot meal into a freezer meal.  We will see how that works out. 

It took about 3 hours from start to finish (meaning from gathering ingredients to clean up) to do all of these.  I also using a food processor for the chopping which I think saved a load of time.  I wasn't in a race and was just enjoying my afternoon to myself so I am sure there's room for improvement.  I think if I did this more and became familiar with all the recipes and prep and it would get faster.  As it is, I still think it wasn't all that bad given how many meals and how many leftovers it will make for us.

In the short term, your kitchen does get quite messy, just keep yourself organized as best you can.

So here's what I chose to make (originally sources linked if you are interested in more recipes)

Beef Burritos - http://www.savingyoudinero.com/2012/06/12/1-hour-1-mess-5-crock-pot-meals/
(6+ servings)

• 1 London Broil or top round roast (about 2 lbs)
• 1 diced onion
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons whole peppercorns
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 (8 oz) cans tomato sauce
• 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce – Use just 1 pepper!! (It’s in a can.)* You can freeze the rest of these to save and use in the future.  Great in chili, process in a food processor and add to mayo for chipotle mayo, or use in other recipes which call for them.
• 1 ½ teaspoon chili powder (you can adjust this according to your taste)

1. Add all the above ingredients into a freezer bag.
2. When you are ready to cook the meal, dump the contents of the bag into the crock pot and cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 6-7 hours Cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 6-7 hours.
3. When the meat is cooked, you will need to strain the juices and add the juice back to the slow cooker. (You want to remove the peppercorns and onions.) Shred the meat and add back to the juice in the slow cooker for about 30 minutes. This is one of our favorite recipes. My kids eat it as long as we have leftovers.

* Tip from what I did in addition to the above.  I put the above marinade into a 1-gal freezer bad and then also purchased Burrito Wraps, put 1 cup of Mexican cheese in 1-quart freezer bag, and 1 cup of rice in a regular sandwich bag.  Then I put all of this (well tried, the wraps wouldn't fit), into another 1-gal freezer bag to hold it all together.  It helps have everything together do you don't get to the meal and say, "aww crap, I am out of X."

The next two are both from this website: http://lovingmynest.com/learning-activities/cooking/freezer-crock-pot-recipes/

Pork and Veggies

1 lb Pork Roast, cut into 1/2 inch strips
1 Onion, chopped
1 Green Bell Pepper, sliced
4 Carrots, sliced
½ pound Fresh Mushrooms, sliced
1 8oz can Tomato Sauce
1.5 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
1 tsp Salt
2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce

Combine ingredients in a large ziptop bag, freeze. Thaw contents of bag and place in a slow cooker. Cook on low 6-8 hours. Serve over hot rice. Serves approx. 5-6 people.

* Again I put all of these ingredients into a 1-gallon freezer bag, then 1 cup of rice into a sandwich bag and both of those into another 1-gallon freezer bag.

Creamy Farmhouse Chicken and Garden Soup

1/2 package (16 ounces) frozen pepper stir-fry vegetable mix * I just used a stir fry mix I liked, I think it was an Asian mix. 
1 cup frozen corn
1 medium zucchini, sliced
2 bone-in chicken thighs, skinned
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 cup half-and-half (or non-dairy milk for dairy allergies)
1/2 cup frozen green peas, thawed *not sure why you could thaw them just to re-freeze them.  I politely ignored this step.
2 tablespoons chopped parsley *I used dried, conversion is on the bottle for fresh to dried ratio
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 can (14 ounces) fat-free chicken broth

Put all ingredients in a Ziploc bag except chicken broth. Freeze. Thaw and put in slow cooker and add chicken broth. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Stir in 3 cups prepared noodles. Serves 7-8 people.

The final one I made into a freezer meal from this site: http://www.tablefortwoblog.com/2012/10/19/chicken-tikka-masala-crockpot/

Chicken Tikka Masala {Crockpot}

Yield: 6-8 servings | Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 8 hours

Ingredients:

8 boneless, skinless chicken tenderloins, or about 5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 3 lbs.)

1 large onion, diced

4 cloves of garlic, minced

2 tbsp. fresh ginger, minced

1 (29 oz.) can of tomato puree

1 1/2 cups plain yogurt

2 tbsp. olive oil

2 tbsp. Garam masala

1 tbsp. cumin

1/2 tbsp. paprika

2 tsp. salt, or to taste

3/4 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper

1-3 tsp. cayenne pepper (depending on your heat preference)

2 bay leaves

1 cup heavy cream

3 tbsp. cornstarch

Chopped parsley or cilantro, for topping

Instructions Adapted for my Invented Freezer Meal Version:

1. Place everything up to the bay leaves in a 1-gallon freezer bag.  Seal bag and mix well to coat. Label it "marinade"
2. In a 1-quart freezer bag mix together heavy cream and corn starch.  Label it "cream".
3. In a sandwich bag (no need to waste a freezer bag on rice), put 1.5 cups of rice in the bag. Label it "1.5 cups of rice - add 3 cups water".
4. Place all 3 bags into 1 1-gallon freezer bag.  Write the cook instructions on the outside: "ADD TWO BAY LEAVES.  Cook for 8 hours on low (or 4 hours on high).  When done, add "cream" bag mixture into the crockpot and gently stir. Let cook an additional 20 minutes to thicken up. At the time you put the cream in, cook the rice."