When the Hubs and I found out in December that we were expecting our first little one, we were absolutely shocked. Not because we are young, not because we weren't trying, but because we had been trying for so long with no result.
I will give you a quick run down so that you can better understand what I mean.
We were told very early that if we wanted biological children, that we would need to begin the process quickly. They had done what felt like hundreds of blood tests, an HSG, ultrasounds, everything, and they said it all came back normal. At the time, my doctors weren't exactly sure what the problem was, but they predicted that I was probably having anovulatory cycles, and that as time went by it would probably get worse. Since we both really wanted children, we immediately began trying, and month after month nothing changed. Since my cycles were so infrequent, every month I would be sure this was it, because Aunt Flo was nowhere to be seen. Each month we would anxiously test, and each month would end in heartbreak. After a while my doctor decided it was time to add Clomid and ovulation predictors to the routine. I took the Clomid for about four months, sometimes responding, sometimes not, before I was finally transferred to an actual infertility clinic about an hour away. From here, a Reproductive Endocrinologist quickly diagnosed me with PCOS and had us begin Clomid IUIs with HCG shots. After another four months of this with no success and my body not responding well, we discovered another roadblock. At one of the scans the RE noticed a strange cyst, and decided to have us get an ultrasound just to be sure that everything was okay. What we discovered was that while the cyst was of no concern, the fallopian tube it was on was. We learned that something wasn't quite right with the tube, and that I would need surgery to figure out what was going on and to hopefully fix it. During the surgery it was discovered that the tube was covered in cysts, blocked, twisted, and full of fluid from the previously mentioned cysts. There was nothing they could do other than remove it, and remove it they did. After a month or so to recover, we picked right up with the IUIs and a new medication, Femara. I responded beautifully to Femara, but still wasn't pregnant after another three months. Then, right before Thanksgiving, we were devastated to learn that I had not responded to the medication. I had a couple tiny follicles, but nothing that would be viable. After re-scan and no growth, the RE told me this particular cycle had failed. He said I would not ovulate this month and that I shouldn't come back until we were ready to proceed with IVF. Over the next few days I kept stubbornly testing for ovulation, but kept coming up negative. Hubs' aunt then gave us a mother goddess doll, and I kid you not, I ovulated the next day! At this point I was so late in my cycle that I sincerely doubted it would work, but we decided to give it a go any ways. And two weeks later, there were two glorious lines. We later found out that I ovulated from the ovary without a fallopian tube, and so it was even more special.
I promise that was the quick version!
So, after all that, it's been very hard to believe at times that this is actually happening. I remember in the very beginning I was sure the test was faulty. Then I was skeptical that I wasn't just being shown a video of an ultrasound. Then I had to convince myself that my midwife wasn't just telling me she found a heartbeat to spare me. Then I was sure that those little flutters were all in my head. I was just so sure that after two years of disappointment that this was just going to end in disappointment as well. Anytime something good would happen, something worse was just around the corner. Now that I'm as far along as I am, there is no denying it! My belly has grown and those flutters are full on punches now.
I'm 78 days away from my guess date, and it still shocks me to know that this is actually happening. It actually worked. We're actually going to be parents. It's not a big elaborate scheme to crush me in the end, this is real! And I couldn't be happier.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Meal Plan Monday...
Uhh... Tuesday... Ehh Monday was long and consisted of a car ride stretching from New Jersey to Virginia. The next MPM will actually be on Monday. Probably, anyways.
Chicken and Rice Soup*
Chicken Caesar Salad
Chicken Casserole*
Frozen Alfredo Skillet Meal
Chicken and Broccoli Casserole*
Leftovers/Panera (As is the Wednesday night knitting group custom)
Beef Lo Mein
What is your meal plan for the week? Link your post over at True Confessions of a Real Mommy.
*These meals will be updated with links to my blog posts with the recipe, so keep an eye open! :)
Chicken and Rice Soup*
Chicken Caesar Salad
Chicken Casserole*
Frozen Alfredo Skillet Meal
Chicken and Broccoli Casserole*
Leftovers/Panera (As is the Wednesday night knitting group custom)
Beef Lo Mein
What is your meal plan for the week? Link your post over at True Confessions of a Real Mommy.
*These meals will be updated with links to my blog posts with the recipe, so keep an eye open! :)
Monday, May 28, 2012
And Here It Is...
Okay, so by now I'm sure everyone and their mother has seen the recent Time magazine cover, but in case you haven't, here it is:
This cover, and I suppose for some the article, has caused major controversy as of late. I have heard everything from cheers of encouragement to sneers of disgust. I have read comments calling this woman and all mothers like her both saints and perverts. I have expressed my personal opinion to my husband and sister, but beyond that have refrained from saying much. I have researched and reposted several articles discussing different points of what is considered attachment parenting, but have refrained from expressing whether or not I actually agreed with those articles. This was all to prevent a possible backlash from those in my life, but in the end I only know one of you, and I'm sure that particular reader won't disintegrate into a pool of blind anger if we happen to disagree. So, with that, I'm going to discuss my personal feelings about this cover, the article, and AP in general.
The Cover:
The actual cover of this article ticks me off. It isn't even the picture that upsets me, I think the picture is great. Art is supposed to cause a stir, get people talking, and no one can say that it didn't do this. The look of a mother almost defiantly feeding her child in the way nature intended whether the world likes it or not is beautiful. What upsets me is the way this photograph was used, especially in conjunction with that title. "Are You Mom Enough?" THAT is what angers me. The picture and title were used to incite anger, to pit us against each other, to cause shame, and all to make profit. In my opinion, that is misuse of power, and that is why I dislike the cover.
The Article:
The enclosed article contained a quick rundown of attachment parenting and a profile of Dr. Sears. This also annoyed me. The actual article had very little to do with the cover art, which just confirmed my suspicion that their aim was to get people in an uproar in order to sell more issues. The title of the article was "The Man Who Remade Motherhood." I despised this title. It implies that the ideals of AP were invented by Dr. Sears, and anyone who follows them is simply following a fad like The Master Cleanse or Myspace. It overrides the fact that these techniques are things that we are biologically programmed to do. It ignores that these are things that women have been doing since the beginning time. It implies that women need a male physician to tell us that it's okay to do what our instincts tell us to do. I appreciate the message that Dr. Sears has worked to spread, I simply dislike the idea that he invented this.
Attachment Parenting:
I agree with many of the ideals of AP, and hope to apply them to the ways I raise my children. I know there are certain things that I won't use because I am not comfortable with them, such as bed sharing, and that's okay. I know I don't have to follow every single one of these ideals "perfectly" in order for my child and myself to reap the benefits. In the end, I keep referring to them as ideals for a reason. Ideally we'd all breastfeed for an extended period of time, practice elimination communication, baby wear, and never let our littles cry, however life doesn't always allow that. I feel there is a lot of science behind why these things work and why we instinctively want to follow through with aspects of it. If anyone wants to learn more about AP and the science behind it, I highly recommend Mayim Bialik's Beyond the Sling.
Beyond the science, the reason I like AP is because it feels right to me. I will do what feels right to me, to the best of my ability. That's all we can truly ask of any parent. In the end, I think that is all that matters. We as mothers, as people, need to support each other in the decisions that we make in our families for our families. We live in a society where no matter what you do, someone is going to disapprove. There will always be someone who is angry with us because of our decisions. So many like to act as if the negativity is all one sided, but it isn't. This heat and negativity is coming from all sides. Either you're an "extremist who needs to get some serious help" or are "lazy and obviously don't care about the well-being of your children." If you happen to be floating somewhere in the middle people want you to settle on a side and fully commit. Someone on my Facebook said she was tired of all this "mommy war shit," and honestly, so am I. Granted, she meant that she didn't believe it was going on, but either way, it works. We need to quit tearing each other down, because we get enough of it from the outside world, we don't need it from each other also. I may not agree with some of the decisions others make (that will be a whole different post) but I support their right to make those decisions. I haven't walked in their shoes, I don't know their experiences. What feels right to me might not necessarily feel right to them. You know what? That's okay. Those differences in opinion, in life style, are what make life beautiful.
In the end, I support parenting in all ways, shapes, and forms. That is my opinion.
 | ||
| mommyish.com |
The Cover:
The actual cover of this article ticks me off. It isn't even the picture that upsets me, I think the picture is great. Art is supposed to cause a stir, get people talking, and no one can say that it didn't do this. The look of a mother almost defiantly feeding her child in the way nature intended whether the world likes it or not is beautiful. What upsets me is the way this photograph was used, especially in conjunction with that title. "Are You Mom Enough?" THAT is what angers me. The picture and title were used to incite anger, to pit us against each other, to cause shame, and all to make profit. In my opinion, that is misuse of power, and that is why I dislike the cover.
 | ||
| Four other pictures considered for the Time cover. |
The enclosed article contained a quick rundown of attachment parenting and a profile of Dr. Sears. This also annoyed me. The actual article had very little to do with the cover art, which just confirmed my suspicion that their aim was to get people in an uproar in order to sell more issues. The title of the article was "The Man Who Remade Motherhood." I despised this title. It implies that the ideals of AP were invented by Dr. Sears, and anyone who follows them is simply following a fad like The Master Cleanse or Myspace. It overrides the fact that these techniques are things that we are biologically programmed to do. It ignores that these are things that women have been doing since the beginning time. It implies that women need a male physician to tell us that it's okay to do what our instincts tell us to do. I appreciate the message that Dr. Sears has worked to spread, I simply dislike the idea that he invented this.
Attachment Parenting:
I agree with many of the ideals of AP, and hope to apply them to the ways I raise my children. I know there are certain things that I won't use because I am not comfortable with them, such as bed sharing, and that's okay. I know I don't have to follow every single one of these ideals "perfectly" in order for my child and myself to reap the benefits. In the end, I keep referring to them as ideals for a reason. Ideally we'd all breastfeed for an extended period of time, practice elimination communication, baby wear, and never let our littles cry, however life doesn't always allow that. I feel there is a lot of science behind why these things work and why we instinctively want to follow through with aspects of it. If anyone wants to learn more about AP and the science behind it, I highly recommend Mayim Bialik's Beyond the Sling.
Beyond the science, the reason I like AP is because it feels right to me. I will do what feels right to me, to the best of my ability. That's all we can truly ask of any parent. In the end, I think that is all that matters. We as mothers, as people, need to support each other in the decisions that we make in our families for our families. We live in a society where no matter what you do, someone is going to disapprove. There will always be someone who is angry with us because of our decisions. So many like to act as if the negativity is all one sided, but it isn't. This heat and negativity is coming from all sides. Either you're an "extremist who needs to get some serious help" or are "lazy and obviously don't care about the well-being of your children." If you happen to be floating somewhere in the middle people want you to settle on a side and fully commit. Someone on my Facebook said she was tired of all this "mommy war shit," and honestly, so am I. Granted, she meant that she didn't believe it was going on, but either way, it works. We need to quit tearing each other down, because we get enough of it from the outside world, we don't need it from each other also. I may not agree with some of the decisions others make (that will be a whole different post) but I support their right to make those decisions. I haven't walked in their shoes, I don't know their experiences. What feels right to me might not necessarily feel right to them. You know what? That's okay. Those differences in opinion, in life style, are what make life beautiful.
In the end, I support parenting in all ways, shapes, and forms. That is my opinion.
Monday, May 21, 2012
The Joys of a New Home
We very recently bought our first home, and it was a lovely hassle, what with all the inspections that were done to ensure that the house was in working condition before we bought it. Someone must have overlooked the plumbing.
The problem we've been having is that not only were the pipes under the sink leaking, water kept backing up into the sink whenever we would run the dishwasher or garbage disposal. It would then take forever to drain.
We just had the plumber leave, and learned that whoever did the piping in this house was apparently out of their mind. He says that the pipes are the wrong size, the wrong fittings were used, and the pipes are set up in a wavy pattern, which is causing a lot of problems. So now we have the plumber coming back tomorrow to fix all of the piping goodness. Another day of eating out to prevent dishes, and a fee of almost 600$. Yay.
In the end, I understand that this is an old house, and things will need fixing. What annoys me is that in order to get our VA loan things had to practically be perfect with this house. We weren't going to be given the loan unless the seller fixed some superficial termite damage on the shed in the back yard. They were going to refuse to give us the loan because some decorative siding had fallen off at the back of the house. These were things that were incredibly silly and superficial. Yet, no one seemed to care about the plumbing issues or even felt like we needed to be told about them. I would have preferred it if the seller had to have the pipes fixed instead of having to fix the shed.
That's life, but it really makes me appreciate having had a landlord who had to deal with these issues for us.
The problem we've been having is that not only were the pipes under the sink leaking, water kept backing up into the sink whenever we would run the dishwasher or garbage disposal. It would then take forever to drain.
We just had the plumber leave, and learned that whoever did the piping in this house was apparently out of their mind. He says that the pipes are the wrong size, the wrong fittings were used, and the pipes are set up in a wavy pattern, which is causing a lot of problems. So now we have the plumber coming back tomorrow to fix all of the piping goodness. Another day of eating out to prevent dishes, and a fee of almost 600$. Yay.
In the end, I understand that this is an old house, and things will need fixing. What annoys me is that in order to get our VA loan things had to practically be perfect with this house. We weren't going to be given the loan unless the seller fixed some superficial termite damage on the shed in the back yard. They were going to refuse to give us the loan because some decorative siding had fallen off at the back of the house. These were things that were incredibly silly and superficial. Yet, no one seemed to care about the plumbing issues or even felt like we needed to be told about them. I would have preferred it if the seller had to have the pipes fixed instead of having to fix the shed.
That's life, but it really makes me appreciate having had a landlord who had to deal with these issues for us.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Friday Already??
Alright! I'm off to a late start since I had to run some errands first thing, and refused to get up earlier. Here is day one of sharing my daily list with the world!
Daily Chores:
Make beds
Feed pets
Load/Run/Empty dishwasher
Sweep kitchen & entryway
Clean kitchen sink
Clear/Wipe kitchen counters
Plan / Cook dinner
Wipe out bathroom sinks
Empty trash
Do laundry
Exercise
Quiet time
Take vitamins/medication
Prepare tomorrow's clothing
Tasks for the Day:
Change dishcloth/towel
Change hand towels in bathrooms
Clean refrigerator drawers
Sweep porch
Do a quick tidy/put away in each room of the house
Spend time on a craft/hobby
Okay, it's 1:35, and I'm going to get to work.
Daily Chores:
Make beds
Feed pets
Load/Run/Empty dishwasher
Sweep kitchen & entryway
Clean kitchen sink
Clear/Wipe kitchen counters
Plan / Cook dinner
Wipe out bathroom sinks
Empty trash
Do laundry
Exercise
Quiet time
Take vitamins/medication
Prepare tomorrow's clothing
Tasks for the Day:
Change dishcloth/towel
Change hand towels in bathrooms
Clean refrigerator drawers
Sweep porch
Do a quick tidy/put away in each room of the house
Spend time on a craft/hobby
Okay, it's 1:35, and I'm going to get to work.
~*~
The Hubs got home at about 2, and so I took a break to hang out and talk with him. I started again at 2:55 and completely finished by 3:52. All in all, that's an hour and 22 minutes. That's a bit longer than I said it normally takes me, but I have some special circumstances today. The dining room table tends to turn into a dump spot for us, and it still needed to be cleared off from yesterday's errand run. Also, our sink decided to fall apart yesterday, literally. So today I had to haul all of the dirty dishes to the bathtub in order to wash them. Between my belly and my knees it was much more difficult than I had anticipated. I've decided that we're using disposable food receptacles until the plumber comes on Monday. Additionally, there will be lots of sandwiches.
Either way, a little under an hour and a half to get the entire house looking very nice isn't bad.
I consider day one to have went very, very well.
Either way, a little under an hour and a half to get the entire house looking very nice isn't bad.
I consider day one to have went very, very well.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Getting Down to Business
So, like I said, my main focus right now is getting this new house in order and getting back into the habit of keeping my home organized. Now that everything is unpacked (Yay!!) and all that is left is R's room and hanging decor, I'm getting back on track with taking care of my home.
I try doing this in little ways. I make a list of meals I plan to make this week so I can shop efficiently and cut down on last minute trips to the closest fast food place. I work on a home journal that houses all the different chores I want to do on each day. I keep a calendar with all the things going on through out the month, and then transplant them onto a mini calendar each week so I can see what is planned for that particular week. I keep a running list of things we need so that I can grab them as I run errands on a set day. I have all these little things that I try to make myself do so that my life can be easier and everything gets done.
There's a problem, though, I am truly terrible at keeping up with most of this. Life happens and everything else goes out the window. I remember doing really well with all of this for a while, then I started college again. Between a 30-60 minute commute depending on traffic, 7 classes a week, hours of homework, and infertility treatments, I was too tired to take care of anything. All of the work I had put into getting a solid system in place kind of disintegrated. Then I found out I was pregnant and the Hubs and I decided I would take a break from school to focus on preparing for R and then taking care of R. Since I wasn't going to school I figured I could really get back into the swing of things and get everything under control by simply reimplementing all the things that had worked in the past. By that point, our house was a disaster and I had underestimated how exhausted and sick I would feel in the first trimester. By the time I had energy again, we were looking to buy a house and dealing with that level of disaster felt pointless and daunting at the same time.
Well, now we've moved and I've had time to really evaluate where I've gone wrong in the past. I don't do well with paper. I don't do well with big giant jobs every day. I don't do well with opening that big binder because I know when I do I am going to get completely overwhelmed. I've learned that what works well for me is simple tasks that cover several areas instead of completely scouring one area. I work well with my phone because it reminds me to do my jobs and attend my meetings. My meal planning works pretty well as long as I'm not being lazy, which, let's be honest, I can be. So, I'm going to begin truly playing into my strengths.
On my phone I've downloaded the Google Tasks app, which incorporates both a to-do list and a calendar. I love that the tasks and appointments I put in can be repeated in different intervals. I have simply programmed in the little things I need to get done each day and set reminders for different times. I also love it for the calendar because, like the lists, I never think to look at the darn thing. With this I program appointments, dates, and events as soon as I learn about them. I enter the time, place, date, and set a reminder. So, my poor habits aren't as disastrous.
One of the big things that has helped me has been the Motivated Moms program. If you haven't heard of it, it's basically a PDF (or app if you have an Isomething, which I don't) that has a separate page for each week. On that page daily chores are listed for each day along with several tasks for each day. Based on everything I have said previously, this sounds like the last thing that would work for me. However, it works perfectly for me. The chores are so intuitive and the tasks are so simple! Literally, the daily chores include things like make the bed, feed the pets, run the dishes, wash laundry if it needs it, etc. Very simple. The tasks are even more simple. The real tasks take place Monday through Friday, with tiny tasks on the weekend. For example, every Sunday the tasks are Cut/Sort/File Coupons, Make a shopping list, and Pamper yourself. The particular Monday I am looking at says to Change dishcloth/towel, Change hand towels in bathrooms, Clean middle shelf of refrigerator, Inventory refrigerator contents and plan meals around leftovers, Vacuum main/public rooms or 1st floor, Vacuum furniture in family/living room, Clean toilets, Replenish stock of toilet paper in bathrooms. It looks like a long list, but it's all small things. I love that you aren't focusing on an entire room or area. I would be much more likely to clean a single shelf in the refrigerator than the entire thing. Also, it's not the end of the world if a task doesn't get finished, because it'll pop up again at some point. All in all, I can finish everything I need to do within about an hour. Being a stay-at-home wife and soon to be mom, I can plow through everything right after I get up. It's a solid hour of working, and then I have the rest of the day to do whatever I want. With the tasks being so small, they're easily broken up, so a working mom or wife can also easily get everything done. I can't express how much I love this program!
Once I fully have this implemented, I'll be able to really start doing a lot of the things I miss and want to do. I'll have time to crochet more, read more, focus on R when he gets here. All in all, I think it'll be really nice. What I want to start doing is posting my jobs for the day, how long it takes, and just keep myself accounted for. :) Wish me luck!
Homemaker's Challenge
I try doing this in little ways. I make a list of meals I plan to make this week so I can shop efficiently and cut down on last minute trips to the closest fast food place. I work on a home journal that houses all the different chores I want to do on each day. I keep a calendar with all the things going on through out the month, and then transplant them onto a mini calendar each week so I can see what is planned for that particular week. I keep a running list of things we need so that I can grab them as I run errands on a set day. I have all these little things that I try to make myself do so that my life can be easier and everything gets done.
There's a problem, though, I am truly terrible at keeping up with most of this. Life happens and everything else goes out the window. I remember doing really well with all of this for a while, then I started college again. Between a 30-60 minute commute depending on traffic, 7 classes a week, hours of homework, and infertility treatments, I was too tired to take care of anything. All of the work I had put into getting a solid system in place kind of disintegrated. Then I found out I was pregnant and the Hubs and I decided I would take a break from school to focus on preparing for R and then taking care of R. Since I wasn't going to school I figured I could really get back into the swing of things and get everything under control by simply reimplementing all the things that had worked in the past. By that point, our house was a disaster and I had underestimated how exhausted and sick I would feel in the first trimester. By the time I had energy again, we were looking to buy a house and dealing with that level of disaster felt pointless and daunting at the same time.
Well, now we've moved and I've had time to really evaluate where I've gone wrong in the past. I don't do well with paper. I don't do well with big giant jobs every day. I don't do well with opening that big binder because I know when I do I am going to get completely overwhelmed. I've learned that what works well for me is simple tasks that cover several areas instead of completely scouring one area. I work well with my phone because it reminds me to do my jobs and attend my meetings. My meal planning works pretty well as long as I'm not being lazy, which, let's be honest, I can be. So, I'm going to begin truly playing into my strengths.
On my phone I've downloaded the Google Tasks app, which incorporates both a to-do list and a calendar. I love that the tasks and appointments I put in can be repeated in different intervals. I have simply programmed in the little things I need to get done each day and set reminders for different times. I also love it for the calendar because, like the lists, I never think to look at the darn thing. With this I program appointments, dates, and events as soon as I learn about them. I enter the time, place, date, and set a reminder. So, my poor habits aren't as disastrous.
One of the big things that has helped me has been the Motivated Moms program. If you haven't heard of it, it's basically a PDF (or app if you have an Isomething, which I don't) that has a separate page for each week. On that page daily chores are listed for each day along with several tasks for each day. Based on everything I have said previously, this sounds like the last thing that would work for me. However, it works perfectly for me. The chores are so intuitive and the tasks are so simple! Literally, the daily chores include things like make the bed, feed the pets, run the dishes, wash laundry if it needs it, etc. Very simple. The tasks are even more simple. The real tasks take place Monday through Friday, with tiny tasks on the weekend. For example, every Sunday the tasks are Cut/Sort/File Coupons, Make a shopping list, and Pamper yourself. The particular Monday I am looking at says to Change dishcloth/towel, Change hand towels in bathrooms, Clean middle shelf of refrigerator, Inventory refrigerator contents and plan meals around leftovers, Vacuum main/public rooms or 1st floor, Vacuum furniture in family/living room, Clean toilets, Replenish stock of toilet paper in bathrooms. It looks like a long list, but it's all small things. I love that you aren't focusing on an entire room or area. I would be much more likely to clean a single shelf in the refrigerator than the entire thing. Also, it's not the end of the world if a task doesn't get finished, because it'll pop up again at some point. All in all, I can finish everything I need to do within about an hour. Being a stay-at-home wife and soon to be mom, I can plow through everything right after I get up. It's a solid hour of working, and then I have the rest of the day to do whatever I want. With the tasks being so small, they're easily broken up, so a working mom or wife can also easily get everything done. I can't express how much I love this program!
Once I fully have this implemented, I'll be able to really start doing a lot of the things I miss and want to do. I'll have time to crochet more, read more, focus on R when he gets here. All in all, I think it'll be really nice. What I want to start doing is posting my jobs for the day, how long it takes, and just keep myself accounted for. :) Wish me luck!
Homemaker's Challenge
Friday, May 11, 2012
Overnight Oats
I've seen a particular set of pins over and over on Pinterest, and finally decided to make it. The pins were for Summer Porridge or Overnight Oatmeal. The premise is brilliant! Simply mix all the ingredients in a mason jar, and stick it in the fridge until morning. Since becoming pregnant I eat a lot more breakfast, however I don't want to do much first thing in the morning. Because of this, my breakfasts tend to consist of a piece of fruit and, if I have it, a Greek yogurt. Needless to say, I felt this would be absolutely perfect. I could have real breakfast without all the work.
The particular recipe I followed came from Pepper Lynn.
From here it's super simple, basically you put everything into a container, mix it up, and let it sit.
The directions say to mix in your flavourings the next morning, but I decided to do it ahead of time.
Here is the finished result:
Now, my thoughts...
I wasn't a huge fan. To be fair to the recipe, it tasted fine, the strawberry banana flavour was awesome. I had trouble with the texture and temperature. It was a bit, for lack of a better word, slimier than I would have liked. As for the temperature, it was cold, exactly as it is supposed to be... And I couldn't handle it. I felt the same way about it as I do about gazpacho, it tastes fine, but dang it oatmeal and tomato soup are supposed to be hot! Also, I recommend you steer clear of the flax seeds. They have a bit of a smoky flavour that just didn't fit with the fruit.
All in all, I think a lot of people would really enjoy this recipe... I'm just not one of them.
The particular recipe I followed came from Pepper Lynn.
Overnight Oats
1/2 cup Rolled Oats (not quick cooking)
1/2 cup Plain Greek Yogurt (I was doing the strawberry banana flavour, and decided to use strawberry flavoured yogurt)
2/3 cup Milk
1 tbs Chia seeds (I decided to use flax since I couldn't find chia)
This is the basic recipe, from here you would add the specific amounts for the different flavours. For mine that consisted of:
2-2 1/2 tbs Strawberry Jelly
1 small banana, mashed
From here it's super simple, basically you put everything into a container, mix it up, and let it sit.
The directions say to mix in your flavourings the next morning, but I decided to do it ahead of time.
Here is the finished result:
Now, my thoughts...
I wasn't a huge fan. To be fair to the recipe, it tasted fine, the strawberry banana flavour was awesome. I had trouble with the texture and temperature. It was a bit, for lack of a better word, slimier than I would have liked. As for the temperature, it was cold, exactly as it is supposed to be... And I couldn't handle it. I felt the same way about it as I do about gazpacho, it tastes fine, but dang it oatmeal and tomato soup are supposed to be hot! Also, I recommend you steer clear of the flax seeds. They have a bit of a smoky flavour that just didn't fit with the fruit.
All in all, I think a lot of people would really enjoy this recipe... I'm just not one of them.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Salsa Black Bean Soup
About a week ago I found a recipe for Salsa Black Bean Soup at Frugal Granola and knew I had to try it. Part of the decision was influenced by R and the fact that he had me craving anything even remotely resembling Mexican cuisine, but the other part was my need to find bean dishes that Hubs will eat. He is very adamant that he hate beans unless they are refried, and I am adamant that I can prove him wrong. For the most part, as long as they in no way resemble beans, I am correct. This was another dish I can add to the Beans Hubs Will Eat list.
Salsa Black Bean Soup
Serves 4
4 cups cooked black beans, drained (I used two cans, but you can also use 1 lb of dried beans soaked over night and cooked)
1 cup Chicken Stock
1 cup Salsa* (The recipe came with an attached salsa recipe, but I used our favourite jarred salsa)
1 cup frozen corn (It will thaw in the soup.)
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried mint
1 tsp. dried cilantro
Sea Salt & Pepper, to taste
1 lb Stew Meat (This was not included in the recipe, but Hubs won't eat a meatless dish without large amounts of complaining!)
Toppings:
Yogurt or Cultured Cream
Thinly Sliced Green Onions
Grated Cheddar or Monterey Jack Cheese
Guacamole or Sliced Avocado (optional)
Begin by browning your meat if you are using it. I seasoned our with a mix of cumin, salt, pepper, and chili powder.
Combine beans, broth, salsa, and spices in a blender, and blend until fairly smooth. I just put all of these straight into a saucepan and used my immersion blender. In my opinion it works just as well and is easier to clean.
Pour into a medium saucepan (if you didn't use my nifty trick), and add corn and herbs. If you have any extra cooked beans, you can add them at this time, too. (You can also add the meat now)
Heat over medium heat until lightly bubbling and heated through, stirring often to prevent sticking. Add additional chicken stock, if you prefer the soup to be a bit thinner.
Ladle into bowls, and serve with a selection of toppings.
*Chipotle Salsa
2 cups diced Tomatoes
1/4 cup diced Onion
2 cloves minced Garlic
2 tsp. minced Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce (or just add a couple spoonfuls of the sauce, if you prefer a milder flavor)
1/4 cup chopped fresh Cilantro
1 tsp. Taco Seasoning (or to taste)
1 Tbl. dried Basil
1 Tbl. Lime Juice
Salt & Pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients. Flavors will meld if left sitting for a few hours, but it can also be served immediately.
I hope you all enjoy, I know we did!
Updates
Well, we aren't off to a great start, are we? I've learned that if I don't stick to the schedule I've given myself, even the tiny one I have now, I get very much off track. For instance, two days ago my to-do list popped up saying I needed to fold the laundry. I was in the middle of something, probably an episode of Supernatural and crocheting, and I told myself I would fold as soon as I finished... Like I said, that was two days ago and the clothes are still in the dryer. I tell myself that I'll improve at things like this as soon as xyz happens, and inevitably xyz does happen while I continue to not improve. Currently xyz is unpacking this house... When I finish unpacking I'll follow my to-do list better, I'll add more things to the to-do list, I'll cook more, I'll craft more, I'll blog and vlog more, I'll blah blah blah. I need to stop putting things off until some future event occurs, and start getting down to business.
Speaking of unpacking, I have made a ton of progress! It feels like I haven't gotten anything done, but slowly it is coming together. :) I've gotten the vast majority done, and the rest I really just need the Hubs to help with. The problem is that I am on the brink of becoming a hoarder. Hubs knows this, and has said that he wants us to really get rid of some stuff instead of just putting it in the attic. I am willing to do this, I just need him to provide a helping hand. He tests for Staff Sergeant on Monday, and so he has been studying since we've moved in. It's only been two weeks, but this is why I am still not finished unpacking. As soon as the test is over, Operation Super Unpack shall commence! Wish us luck!
Now, I'm going to post a recipe, start dinner, and then fold that laundry... Maybe...
Speaking of unpacking, I have made a ton of progress! It feels like I haven't gotten anything done, but slowly it is coming together. :) I've gotten the vast majority done, and the rest I really just need the Hubs to help with. The problem is that I am on the brink of becoming a hoarder. Hubs knows this, and has said that he wants us to really get rid of some stuff instead of just putting it in the attic. I am willing to do this, I just need him to provide a helping hand. He tests for Staff Sergeant on Monday, and so he has been studying since we've moved in. It's only been two weeks, but this is why I am still not finished unpacking. As soon as the test is over, Operation Super Unpack shall commence! Wish us luck!
Now, I'm going to post a recipe, start dinner, and then fold that laundry... Maybe...
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