Adventures in Cooking

This morning I was finally at the end of my wits. I've been on a pretty strict diet for about three months now and I was dying for pizza. I invented a diet pizza. Mmmm.
Probably the first of many new inventions (and pizza combinations).

This one I like to call "Chicken Caesar Salad Pizza"
It was as good as I'd hoped.

I made a wheat crust with a recipe that I found online and modified to this:


Wheat Pizza Crust


2 1/4 c. Whole Wheat Four
1 tsp salt (I used Sea Salt)
1 c. warm water
1 Quarter ounce packet of Active Dry Yeast

Mix yeast and water in small bowl, in a larger bowl, combine salt and flour. Let yeast and water sit about 10 min and blend all together in the large bowl. Stretch crust to pan and poke with a fork and pre-bake 5-10 min before adding toppings.

The toppings for my pizza may sound a little iffy, but it was really good. For the sauce I had a light glaze of Caesar salad dressing, I didn't want too much because dressings are a bit fatty. Mozzarella next of course, followed by bits of grilled chicken and bacon and lots of veggies. Green onions, black and green olives, mushrooms, chunks of fresh tomatoes and spinach found their way onto my "super diet pizza", all topped off with more mozzarella and cheddar. Best part is that it was pretty filling as well. Worst part is with all the toppings that it took about a half hour to all bake together, being broiled for the last five min.

Whoever had the brainchild of inventing pizza is my hero.
Mmmm.

Side note:
Fresh tomatoes are in my future as well as zucchini.
Reason:
I have a super awesome landlord that is letting us put in a small garden.
(He'd probably let us have it as big as we want, but it would be too hard without the proper tools at my disposal)

Yesterday Was One of the Best Mondays of My Life

So Monday I tried on some pants that I haven't been able to wear for 3 years.

Success!!!
They fit.
: )
All the hard dedication to veggies and sticking to the diet even in low points is paying off. If this good has come about after 3 months, I'm interested in seeing how 6 months into this goes, as well as my promise to myself of a year.
Hazaah!
With the weather being warmer and being more favorable, I'm finding it easier to walk and get a bit of exercise that way.
I'm even to the point where my body doesn't like me when I cheat, like Easter. Sugars make my body almost go into a toxic shock. I don't think my body would ever let me get away with a couple of doughnuts at this point.
Crazy, but a Good crazy.

After a Long Week

The past six days for me have been more wearing than usual. I worked at both my places of employment five of the six days and had one more full shift at my primary job the 6th day. Today I enjoyed a light day at the game shop, before hand enjoying a leisurely breakfast and morning and afterwards taking a dawdling two mile stroll in the lovely afternoon weather. I even got to checkout a new antique shop that opened this past weekend. Yay for warm weather being back! I decided today that I actually like antique shops, it is amazing how much stuff is familiar to me. The things that make up yester-year are wonderful. Sometimes with all the technological advancements, its nice to see reminders of simpler times and glance at the past. When I lived in Stevens Point, I often liked to bike downtown to their antique store and some of their other little shops (Vagabond Imports was always interesting). The point I'm getting to is that I was grateful for such a nice afternoon to have off after so many days being cooped indoors and not being able to have much fun.
My roommate and I actually got to watch a movie together for the first time in probably two months. We watched Dungeons and Dragons. Definitely not two thumbs up. It seemed to be a pretty tacky "B" film. At least it could be funny it was so tacky. Later I also got to watch Clueless after the roomie went to bed. It had been a while since I've seen it and I almost forgot how much I enjoyed it. My friend Kasi Jo was the first to expose me to this film about two years ago. This could almost be "worse" than Dungeons and Dragons, as it's tacky and girly. : P



Bottom line is, it probably is one of my many favorite movies.

Stolen from my Californian friend....

HE MIGHT NOT BE COOl. BUT WE THINK HE IS RIGHT

The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the perforunhappy mance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?''

Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is
the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than
Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from
around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you,
your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy. Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?

Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.

They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case, scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way...Insane!

Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your birdcage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.

We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"YO!!!!!

Has Anything like this Ever Happened to You?

Last night something out of the ordinary happened, I laid down while praying the rosary because my back was hurting so severely, after which I fell asleep. That isn't the weird part. The strange thing was waking up the next morning with the rosary still in my outstretched hand, clutching it with no strain or cramping. I took it as a sign from my Guardian Angel that I should finish my rosary.
(My mom says that if you fall asleep while praying, your Guardian Angel finishes praying for you. I figured with the given situation that I was meant to finish my own work this time.)
: )

The Easter Weekend with the Fam

This past weekend was a blessing. I was granted off for Easter Sunday and Monday without having to ask off. Of course, I went home to visit the family. This was the first holiday in a long time that our whole family wasn't able to gather, but all still was good. I had brought home a couple dishes to pass for us to indulge in along with the usual fixin's that my mother has for us. I made sea-leg salad, whole wheat banana bread with white chocolate chips and almonds and mint-chocolate chip brownies. My mother was impressed because growing up I never really spent any time in the kitchen with her, I was always out in the barn on our farm.
The funny thing about going home is that visiting always saps more energy than I had to offer before arriving. For example, Sunday at about 3:00, the kids paused a movie to go do the egg hunt and I just closed my eyes to relax for a bit. Imagine my surprise and disorientation when I woke back up at 8:30 pm.
The next day wore me out even more. My mom and I went out to run some errands, we literally made 13 stops. I feel like every time I go home I have this similar problem. It makes me realize that I need to retire so that I have time for a life and time for my family. Too bad that's a fantasy world right now. Right now in my life, I would like to get my finances in order so I wont have to work so hard when I am older. On the bright side of things it keeps me out of trouble. ; ) My mother would love for me to move back home in an instant if I only said the word. Unfortunately I suffer the curse of being the youngest and my mother does not wish to cope with empty nest syndrome. With that being said, it really was nice to go shopping with her, even if made me tired. We even went to my favorite restaurant, she enjoys it too and my dad doesn't like to go with her there. It's a Mexican restaurant and he just does not care for that style of cuisine.
The time at home was way too short, but as always, time well spent. Every minute of it. At least this time I got to take a few of the luxuries of home with me, a few packs of homegrown steaks and roasts from my brother's farm (the one I grew up on). Hopefully I will get to enjoy those soon. : )

Nummy Chocolate Chip Cookies (Abbey's favorite)

Needed Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 c. All-Purpose Flour
• 1/2 tsp. Salt
• 1 tsp. Baking soda
• 3/4 c. White sugar
• 3/4 c. brown sugar (packed)
• 1 c. unsalted butter (no margarine!)
  
• 2 tsp. Vanilla extract (preferably pure)
• 2 eggs
• 1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, salt and baking soda in a separate bowl and set aside. In a bigger bowl, combine white sugar, brown sugar, butter, vanilla and egg. I usually thoroughly mix sugars and butter before adding the other two. Mix thoroughly, then gradually add in the flour mixture. Once all that is mixed completely, add the chocolate chips. Place in small dough balls on cookie sheet (use parchment paper for easy removal, you won't regret it.) Bake 8-12 min or until golden brown.

Never Fail- White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

I've won over the hearts of many with these rich delights. This recipe always produces perfectly rounded cookies that remain chewy if pulled at the proper time. Unfortunately I cannot use whole wheat flour in any of my cookie recipes. They dry out into crunchy cookies. : (.

My good friend Abbey has helped me hone both of my recipes to perfection. Thanks Abbey!!

Needed Ingredients:

• 2 c. All-Purpose Flour
• 1/2 tsp. Salt
• 1 tsp. Baking soda
• 3/4 c. White sugar
• 3/4 c. brown sugar (packed)
• 1 c. unsalted butter (no margarine!)
  
• 2 tsp. Vanilla extract (preferably pure)
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 c. chopped macadamia nuts
• 1 bag white chocolate chips
  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, salt and baking soda in a separate bowl and set aside. In a bigger bowl, combine white sugar, brown sugar, butter, vanilla and egg. I usually thoroughly mix sugars and butter before adding the other two. Mix thoroughly, then gradually add in the flour mixture. Once all that is mixed completely, add the macadamia nuts and the white chocolate chips. Place in small dough balls on cookie sheet (use parchment paper for easy removal, you won't regret it.) Bake 8-12 min or until golden brown.

Mom's Awesome Cauliflower

This is a recipe from my mother, I'm not really sure where she got the recipe, but it's amazing. I didn't like this growing up; but what kid likes that many vegetables?

Needed Ingredients:

• One head of cauliflower
• 2-3 tbsp chopped onion
• 1 tbsp yellow mustard (I use 2 because I like mustard)
• 1/2 c. miracle whip (I use light, I guess it doesn't matter though.)
• 1/4+ c. shredded cheese. Usually cheddar or colby is best. Amount of cheese depends on taste
  

Trim cauliflower head and rinse, do not shake off excess water, this will help when cooking it. Place in a very large microwavable dish and cover. Microwave on high for 8-10 minutes depending on the size of the cauliflower head and power of the microwave, just make sure it it is cooked. Mix the mustard, miracle whip and chopped onions. Spread mixture onto cooked cauliflower and sprinkle on shredded cheese. Microwave another 1 1/2- 2 min uncovered to melt cheese.

Someday I would like to figure out how to adjust this recipe to make in a conventional instead of a microwave oven.