Saturday, November 28, 2009
Happy Belated Thanksgiving
I haven't been home in three days. I apologize for my absence, but Happy Turkey Day (although belated) to you all!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Clam Chowder & Cheddar Biscuits
OK, so I've decided to have a recipe challenge and have begun a weight loss challenge for myself.
Jake and I recently took pictures with a very talented photographer friend of mine. When I saw the pictures, my jaw literally fell to the floor. The pictures themselves were wonderful, beautiful...the editing was unbelievable. But all I could see was my double chin(s). Yes, I said it. In the blogosphere. I have a double chin. I was disgusted with myself. How had I let this happen? Time and time again I thought that I was doing OK, then when I saw a little progress, I figure "oh this one thing won't hurt me"..but it does. Because it never stops with that one thing. It continues...and continues...and continues...and I hate it.
So I am making a pledge, and am hoping to make myself accountable by posting my ups and downs on this blog. I'm hoping you all will help and support me in this and I'm hoping I can stick to it.
So onto this week's recipe...
The chilly weather is in full effect. Thanksgiving is 3 days away (woohoo! Family!) :)
So, here is a classic recipe combo, and the biscuits are an almost carbon copy of Red Lobster's Bay Biscuits...Yummo!
New England Clam Chowder
Recipe & Photo from allrecipes.com
Prep Time: 15 mins, Cook Time: 40 mins, TOTAL: 55 mins
8 servings
4 slices of bacon, diced
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1 1/2 cups water
4 cups peeled and cubed potatoes
1 1/2 tsp salt
ground black pepper to taste
3 cups half-and-half
3 tbsp butter
2 (10oz each) cans minced clams
1. Place dices bacon in large stock pot over medium-high heat. Cook until almost crisp; add onions, and cook 5 minutes. Stir in water and potatoes, and season with salt and papper. Bring to a boil, and cook uncovered for 15 minutes, or until potatoes are fork tender.
2. Pour half-and-half, and add butter. Drain clams, reserving clam liquid; stir clams and 1/2 of clam liquid into soup. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until heated through. Remove from heat and allow to sit for about 10 minutes to slightly thicken. Serve and enjoy!
Cheddar Biscuits
Recipe & Photo from allrecipes.com
Prep Time: 15 mins, Cook Time: 15 mins, TOTAL: 35 mins
8 servings
2 cups biscuit baking mix (Bisquick)
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
2/3 cup milk
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp butter, melted
2 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp garlic salt
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a cookie sheet or line sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, combine biscuit baking mix, Cheddar cheese, and garlic powder. Stir in milk. Drop batter by heaping tablespoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheet.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Brush biscuits with melted butter and sprinkle with dried parsley and garlic salt. Bake for 5 more minutes, or until lightly browned on bottoms.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Terrible Twos
Jake and my niece, Skyler is a little over 2 years old. And yes, she's going through her terrible twos right now. Oh happy days. She's still a cutie and we love her to bits. So I thought I would kind of give a timeline of how she's grown so far.
2 months
4 months
6 months
9 months
15 months
18 months
2 years old!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Shrimp Scampi Bake
Jalen - this one's for you buddy! :)
Shrimp Scampi has always been one of those dishes that's intimidated me for no reason. I thought for a long time that only professionals or gourmets would know how to make scampi correctly. When I saw this recipe and how simple it was, I decided to give it a try. I've modified the recipe a little, so here it goes.
Shrimp Scampi Bake
original recipe & photo on allrecipes.com
Prep: 30 min, Cook: 15 min, TOTAL: 45 mins
6 servings
1/2 cup butter (1 stick) - the original recipe calls for 1 cup butter...WAY TOO MUCH!
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp Dijon style mustard
1 tbsp garlic, minced or chopped
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
2 pounds medium raw shrimp, shelled, deveined
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. In small saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, mustard, lemon juice, garlic and parsley. When the butter melts completely, remove from heat.
3. Arrange shrimp in shallow baking dish. Pour butter mixture over the shrimp.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until shrimp are pink and opaque.
(I served this over wheat pasta...yum!) Enjoy!
Friday, November 13, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
yuck with a capital F
Sorry for the profanity that is existing in my subject title, but this has been a frustrating day. I was, once again, reminded why I dropped "deadbeat OB" as Jake and I refer to her.
As posted previously, most of you know that I was referred to an RE, aka Reproductive Endocrinologist. Lamens (sp?) terms: doctor that can help infertility caused by hormonal screw-ups.
Tuesday I got a call from the office of a doctor in SF that will be my RE. The nurse was very nice and explained that I would need a consultation and updated blood work to measure where I am now vs. when I was the last time I had blood taken for these particular tests. She wanted to see which tests I would need specifically, so they called me back yesterday. In addition to updated blood work, I am to have an HSG. (TMI time) An HSG is a Hysterosalpingography. Basically, the "shoot" slightly radioactive dye via a catheter into my uterus and fallopian tubes to see if the tubes are blocked. (See? told you TMI) I've heard various stories about this procedure with the degree of pain ranging from "uncomfortable like a pelvic exam" to "thought I would jump off the table it hurt so bad". I will also need to take Progesterone to have a withdrawal bleed (aka menses) and then have the bloodwork done before this procedure takes place. I will also go in to have a consultation with the doctor that will oversee my case and will take medical histories from both Jake and I. After that, I will need to take a class on injectable medication: what it is, what it does, risks, etc. in addition to learning how to administer the meds. Yeah...Laurel is going to "learn" how to give herself a shot. Yikes. I say "learn" with quotation marks because I will be taking notes and then showing Jake how to do it since I know if I even try to get near myself with a needle, you would find me in an unconcious heap in whatever room I'm in.
The reason for the subject title is because I knew this would happen. When I was with "deadbeat OB", I asked her if I needed to have an HSG and she said with my diagnosis, I wouldn't need one. I thought maybe it might be a good idea to see if there is another cause to not ovulating rather than shoving pills down my throat, but she's the professional apparently (insert extreme sarcasm in the previous statement) ;) So yes, I'm a little miffed. This procedure could have been done and overwith but nooooooooo. Argh.
I know that with the medication I'm already on, continued exercise and eating right that this will all be OK and we'll be parents before you know it. It's just the needles I'm not fond of.
As posted previously, most of you know that I was referred to an RE, aka Reproductive Endocrinologist. Lamens (sp?) terms: doctor that can help infertility caused by hormonal screw-ups.
Tuesday I got a call from the office of a doctor in SF that will be my RE. The nurse was very nice and explained that I would need a consultation and updated blood work to measure where I am now vs. when I was the last time I had blood taken for these particular tests. She wanted to see which tests I would need specifically, so they called me back yesterday. In addition to updated blood work, I am to have an HSG. (TMI time) An HSG is a Hysterosalpingography. Basically, the "shoot" slightly radioactive dye via a catheter into my uterus and fallopian tubes to see if the tubes are blocked. (See? told you TMI) I've heard various stories about this procedure with the degree of pain ranging from "uncomfortable like a pelvic exam" to "thought I would jump off the table it hurt so bad". I will also need to take Progesterone to have a withdrawal bleed (aka menses) and then have the bloodwork done before this procedure takes place. I will also go in to have a consultation with the doctor that will oversee my case and will take medical histories from both Jake and I. After that, I will need to take a class on injectable medication: what it is, what it does, risks, etc. in addition to learning how to administer the meds. Yeah...Laurel is going to "learn" how to give herself a shot. Yikes. I say "learn" with quotation marks because I will be taking notes and then showing Jake how to do it since I know if I even try to get near myself with a needle, you would find me in an unconcious heap in whatever room I'm in.
The reason for the subject title is because I knew this would happen. When I was with "deadbeat OB", I asked her if I needed to have an HSG and she said with my diagnosis, I wouldn't need one. I thought maybe it might be a good idea to see if there is another cause to not ovulating rather than shoving pills down my throat, but she's the professional apparently (insert extreme sarcasm in the previous statement) ;) So yes, I'm a little miffed. This procedure could have been done and overwith but nooooooooo. Argh.
I know that with the medication I'm already on, continued exercise and eating right that this will all be OK and we'll be parents before you know it. It's just the needles I'm not fond of.
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