One Foot In Front Of The Other

Food Note: Seems like I'm the only one who enjoyed the Beany & Cheesy Quinoa Bake. Whatever. You win some, you lose some. :-P

So, I've been feeling particularly challenged lately. You know what? Life is really hard. Especially when it comes to being a parent. That crap's HARD. I feel like I screw up so much stuff, but I guess that's when I just have to take a step back, take some deep breaths, and then just start over...one foot in front of the other. So, that's what I'm trying to do. It's these tough times when I really miss my Mom. I need her direction, her ear, her reproach...her love. But I know she's watching over me...nudging me to get back on course when I veer off onto some side road. Thanks, Mommy; I know you'll always have my back.

And you know what else? I'm really thankful for the rest of my family; my sisters, brothers, and Dad. There is no one else in the world like them and I know they always have my back, too. I am especially thankful for Sister #1 for helping me wade through some mud last night. I am so blessed in my life and I really need to focus on that. God and my family will get me through whatever life has to deal me.

Inhale. Exhale. One foot in front of the other...

Captain Cooker Lady

Whew!  I got some serious cooking on today, folks.  More on that in a bit, but first the updates. 

First of all, as of last Wednesday, I am enrolled in MA81.  Ugh.  I am still bitter about having to take this class, so I'm not going to talk about it that much.  Suffice it to say, I'm on my way to A.A.S. completion and that's all that matters.  Fingers crossed that by December this year I will FINALLY have my degree.  Good Lord, it only took me 8 flipping years to do it. 

So, because of this addition to my already ridiculously busy schedule, I've had to make a couple of adjustments.  Much to my fitness dismay, I've had to concede and give myself Mondays as a "rest day".  ::sigh::  I really want to be working out 7 days per week, but, alas, it cannot be.  As it stands, I'll have the following fitness schedule:

Mondays - "rest day"
Tuesdays/Thursdays - Nike+ at home
Wednesday/Friday - Gym w/Sister #1 (Amy)
Saturday - Zumba (yeah, baby!)
Sunday - either Zumba or Yoga

I guess it will just have to be what it will be. 

Moving along, I'm also hoping to adjust my work schedule to work a half hour later every day so I can get my full 8 hours.  Not that I want to work later, but I need the cashola.  Keep your fingers crossed that my boss says yes. :)

Next up, the cooking.  So, since I'm following the Shrinking Kitchen weekly menu plan, Sundays are my Menu Plan/Grocery Shop days.  Now, since I won't be home for dinner on Monday nights, I need to make that night's dinner on Sunday.  (Isn't Sunday supposed to be a day of rest?  Oh well, no rest for the insanely busy, I suppose...)  And that's what I did today: made Beany & Cheesy Quinoa Bake for tomorrow night's dinner (and my lunch at work).  However, I did not, of course, stop there.  This morning I made Whole Wheat Blueberry Pancakes (which no one but me liked...whatever), and before I made the Quinoa Bake I made Strawberry Yogurt Muffins for breakfasts/snacks.  Like I said, I got my cook on today.  I like it, though.  I guess I get that from Mommy. :)

I tried the muffins, and they were delicious!  Therefore, here is the recipe.  Oh, and speaking of muffins!  Those Whole Wheat Lemony Blueberry Muffins I made last week - SO YUMMY!! :)  I really hope the Quinoa Bake is yummy, too.  I'll let you know.

Ugh, I need to stop writing and go do more stuff.  Gotta wash The Captain's hair and get her into bed.  Thankfully, tomorrow's lunches are as done as they can be for now, so once she's in bed I actually get 30 minutes to myself.  Yippee!

Until tomorrow, kids....;)

Home with a Sick Kid = Try a New Recipe!

Today is Day 2 of Emma being home sick.  Luckily, The Man (a.k.a. Mark) stayed home with her yesterday.  He can be pretty awesome when he tries.  Today, it's my turn.  I, also, can be pretty awesome. :-D  

Since I have all this time on my hands today (something I am definitely not used to), I decided to try out a recipe that I found on ShrinkingKitchen.com.  My big sis Amy recently made me aware of this website and I can't thank her enough!  It is amazing!  It has a weekly menu plan of healthy meals, and daily emails with new recipes.  I've made a resolution this year to eat cleaner and live a healthier lifestyle, so this website is amaaaaaaazing! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it.   

Anyway, I recently received a meal plan email with a recipe for Whole Wheat Lemony Blueberry Muffins.  At a mere 106 calories a pop, I couldn't resist.  So, while The Captain watched some old episodes of She-Ra (oh yeah, my kid is old school), I decided to whip up a batch of these delightful muffins.  The recipe only makes 12 muffins, which, to me, is perfect.  Sometimes I really hate when the recipe makes like 3 dozen of something and then no one ends up eating any after the first like 10 because there are just too many of whatever the thing was that I made.  (That, my friends, was an awesome sentence...talk about run-on...)  I haven't tasted them yet, but I'm going to have one as my afternoon snack and I'm sure it's going to be amazing.  For your pleasure, I am including a picture and the recipe.  Enjoy!!

 

 

Whole Wheat Lemony Blueberry Muffins

Whole Grain Lemony Blueberry Muffins

Rating: 5

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 12 muffins

Serving Size: 1 muffin

While these muffins are not sugary sweet, the blueberries and lemon give a nice kick and lots of moistness to this whole grain muffin.

Gather

3/4 cups low fat milk

4 ounces (1/2 cup) Fage plain 2% Greek yogurt

1 egg

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 teaspoon lemon extract (you could add more)

1 tablespoon lemon zest

1/4 cup corn meal

1 cup white whole wheat flour (could use regular whole wheat)

1/2 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons brown sugar

3 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup of fresh or frozen blueberries

Step by step

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and lightly spray muffin tin with oil or line with paper liners.
2. Combine wet ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
3. Add dry ingredients, except blueberries, to a large bowl and whisk to combine.
4. Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet. Mix with a spoon until just combined. The batter will be lumpy, just make sure all the dry ingredients are wet.
5. Gently fold in blueberries. (*hint, if you lightly coat your blueberries in flour, they won't sink to the bottom when you bake.)
6. Put muffin tin on middle rack in oven and bake for 18-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean.
7. After completely cooled, you can store these in an air tight container or freeze for later!

Nutrition

WW PP 3, Calories 106, Total Fat 1.2g, Cholesterol 15mg, Sodium 115mg, Total Carbohydrates 20.9g, Dietary Fiber 1.7g, Sugars 9.0g, Protein 4.0g

Let's Do This!

OK.  So...wow.  I'm gonna try this blogging thing out.  Because I have so much extra time to write a blog.  But you know what? I think it's going to be good.  Therapeutic.  

I guess I should start by introducing myself.  My name is Jessica Taylor.  I am a 30 year old mother, wife, sister, daughter, cousin, granddaughter, friend, employee, cook, maid, taxi driver, student, and any other title you want to give me.  So let's break this down a bit.  I have been married for 7 years to my first and only love, Mark.  I have also been a mother for 7 years to the most amazing little girl, Emma.  I also work full time, am working on finishing my A.A.S. degree in Paralegal Studies, workout 7 days a week, and run The Captain (a.k.a. Emma) to Karate 3 nights a week, pack lunches for the three of us most days of the work week, cook dinner almost every night, and keep the house in some semblance of order.  Sound exhausting yet?  Yeah, it is.  But, I love everything I do; even if I complain about some of it now and then.  

So what exactly is this blog going to be about?  Pretty much whatever I feel like that day.  I am pretty positive I'll be posting pictures of food I make (along with the recipes and links to where I found them).  I'm sure there will be posts about Mark and Emma.  Probably some complaints about school.  Really, just whatever floats my boat that day.  Think of it as taking a peek inside my diary.  Exciting, right?  Thrilling, no?  Well, we can always pretend. ;)

I hope you enjoy keeping up with me in my hectic world!!