Easter Ham in September

Josh recently bought a couple of large hams from a customer.  We tossed them in the freezer and have been planning for months to "get those out and have some people over for dinner".  Since Josh has a few weeks off, we finally thawed out a ham!  We contacted mom and dad for advice on how to cook a ham.  Per mom, we contacted Dad and were told "heat it up to 144".  At some point we figured out that we had no pan in which to cook the meat, and no thermometer to know if it was done.  So one short walmart trip later, we were set.  Josh tossed in the hunk of ham and baked it for a few hours and then applied the very fall smelling glaze.  It was a beautiful thing to see and smell!  Josh cockpotted a few potatoes.  I made some homemade salsa.  We invited Josh's roommate and his girlfriend, Michelle, over to share in our feast!  They are our favorite cooking partners!  Michelle put together some delicious apple and pear crisp for dessert!  Dinner was served!   Every part was wonderful!  Looks like Josh and I can host Thanksgiving this year : )  hehehe

JoshuaMGraber

I am writing this post the evening before I depart for my trip to Alaska!  Josh once jokingly asked that I write a post in his honor.  Since I am thinking about how I will miss him when I am gone, now seems to be the time.  I met Josh a couple years ago in passing at a mutual friends birthday party.  Facebook friended him, even though I didn't know him, and went on my way.  Then low a behold a few years down the road I met up with his sister under less than ideal circumstances.  However, through those circumstances she managed to plant a bug in Josh's proverbial ear, and we went on a date.  About a week later, we were dating and now six months have flown by!  I feel blessed beyond belief to know this incredible man and have him in my life : )   I've never met such a loving, kind, compassionate, Jesus loving person who can make me laugh and cry all in good ways!  I love you Josh and will miss you while I am gone!  Thanks for watering my plants and getting my mail in for me.  Don't forget to not do what I told you to not do ; )  teehee...inside joke : )

Pinterest

I have a confession to make.  I once said I thought Pinterest was "stupid and pointless"...and now I can't get enough.  Josh is sitting next to me at Barnes and Noble right now and what does he says as he looks at my screen and sees me browsing Pinterest?  "Big surprise".  Apparently I spend much of my computer time in the same place.  I just love all the ideas.  I am such an idea/project person and where else can you get countless ideas and share your ideas with others.  Love it!  

I've been wanting a summer wreath and have browsed various stores with nothing catching my eye.  So  I decided to make my own wreath and Pinterested it!  It was super simple.  You just need a wreath mold that you can get at any local arts/crafts store.  First, cover it with any color of yarn or fabric.  This is the most painful part.  I'd recommend working on this while watching TV or something because it is tedious!  

Once you have it sufficiently wrapped, you can start making your flowers.  I went to the clearance fabric rack and picked out a few fabrics.  Then you cut them out in whatever shape you would like from large to small to form a flower.  In the center I placed a button, and used different colored push pins in the button holes to attach the flowers to the wreath!  To get the wreath to hang, I braided some left over yarn and pulled in through the wrapped yarn and then tied it to make a loop.  I also place a button in the center and push pinned it in to keep the loop attached more tightly.  Very simple and fun project!

Building Steam

As I am sitting at my computer at the end of another busy day, I am pondering my most recent commitment.  About a month ago one of my friends asked me to join a running group called Building Steam that gears you up for running the Steamboat Classic in June.  Even though it has been tough having another obligation in my schedule, it has been so interesting to watch all the different people who come every week "excited"  to build their racing endurance.  I've seen everything from children in wheelchairs to elderly people who look like they may fall over at any second. However, these elderly people are probably in better shape than most of the people there.  We started running 4 minutes, walking 1 minute for about 30 minutes.  We are now up to running 5 minutes, walking 1 minute for about 40 minutes.  I would highly recommend this pattern for anyone trying to get into running.  Even as someone who has already been running for quite some time, it has helped build my speed and get me used to stopping and starting.  I've always had a very difficult time going from running to walking to running again.  This program is helping me cure that problem.  For new runners, you could start out at whatever interval you want to and gradually increase your times.  I love the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that comes from running and love to watch others learn to love it too!  If you ever want a coach, just give me a call!  I am happy to keep anyone accountable and encouraged.

Dinner and Dessert!

Josh and I recently decided to start trying new recipes about once per week.  So I've decided to fill you in on our exciting adventures!  This week I got to try out "tenderizing chicken" to flatten it out.  I felt a little like I was killing the chicken a second time, but it did flatten out as desired.  We made a pizza stuffed chicken breast, and it was even better than I thought it would be.  First, I flattened the chicken out until it seemed like it would be able to be rolled up.  The stuffing was basically pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and seasoning!  Roll it up and bake it!  Add a few pepperoni and a little cheese to the top for some extra zest!

 I did put the pepperoni on before baking, but I'd recommend adding the sprinkle of cheese on top at the end.

 For dessert we tried a pumpkin mousse!  I was a little unsure about this recipe as it requires a heap of greek yogurt which I wasn't to sure I would like with the pumpkin.  It's a mix of greek yogurt, pumpkin, sugar free pudding mix, splenda, and skim milk!  Delicious with a bit of lite whip cream and shortbread cookies on top.  It is also very protein filled, so it's a great dessert when you need the extra protein and not so many carbs!

Dinner is served!  

We paired a lettuce salad with the chicken breast since I wanted to also try a healthy ranch dressing recipe!  Greek yogurt, dry ranch mix, and skim milk.  The flavor was definitely very good, but I need to figure a way to thicken it up a bit without getting to much greek yogurt flavor.  This is something I'm going to have to ponder.  Let me know if you all have any ideas! 

The lighting isn't great for this photo, but the chicken was outstanding!!

Once again, bad picture, good food!

Stuffed with protein and goodness!  Delectable dinner!

Trying Something New

Do you ever have one of those moments when you realize that the way you have always done things is just not working?  About a month ago I finally realized that the "healthy choices" I was making in my food choices combined with my workout regime was just not working.  I continued to gain and lose the same 10 pounds over and over.  In my frustration, I decided to download an iphone app called MyFitnessPal.  This little app has changed so much for me.  For all of my interest in diet and exercise, I truly had no idea how many calories were in even the little things I was eating.  The continuous revelations have led me to making some changes in the way I cook.  One being that I had to find some way to still be able to eat dessert and not feel like diabetes and heart disease were setting in the second I took one bite.  So for Easter, I decided to try a few new ideas.

 First we have a low calorie/low sugar frosting!  Goodbye butter and powdered sugar!  This creamy light frosting is to die for and not so bad for you.  Combine 1 small box of sugar free pudding, 1 16 oz container of cool whip, and 1 cup of skim milk and enjoy!  Add the pudding to the milk slowly, mixing the whole time to avoid lumps and then fold in the cool whip!  I got this idea from another blog I read called The Dashing Dish.  She has so many great ideas for "fixing" the health problems in traditional cooking.  

 Next I made a pineapple cake.  Mix one box of cake mix with 1 can of pineapple and some almond extract and bake.  No oil, no eggs.  This cake was one of the most moist cakes I have ever tasted.  Topped with some of that creamy frosting, it was delicious!  

 Who doesn't love a red velvet cupcake?  Combine one box of red velvet cake mix with 1 can of diet Dr. Pepper and bake.  I topped these with the same frosting, and it was a hit!

 And then...my first attempt at making homemade hummus.  I have intended to try this for so long.  2 cans of chickpeas, a little tahini, cumin, garlic, basil, ice water, salt, and olive oil.  Blend and blend and blend and blend and blend.  I thought my blender was going to go up in smoke!  

 Finally, I had something to show for it.

 It was not so very difficult.  However, I have a few recommendations for anyone going down this road.  First, use real garlic, not garlic powder.  Don't be afraid to use more water than the recipe states is needed.  Keep the salt handy, and there is a difference between plain cumin and ground cumin!      

Hummus is a great replacement for those of us who feel the need to dip everything we eat.  Also, you can find it in the store if you don't want to take the time to make it.  I hope this can inspire you all to make a few little changes where you can without sacrificing flavor!

Apple Pie Chai

It's difficult to figure a topic for a first post.  I feel like it should be something sensational and memorable, but I can't seem to think of a thing.  So, I'm just going to reflect on my current situation.  I sit pleasantly content on an unusually soft coffee house couch watching the downtown "rush hour" traffic pass by.  I just accomplished another successful day at the surgery office I just started working at and am waiting for 6:30 to roll around so I can hit up my local Bible Study and head home.  So 3030 Coffee it is.  I survey the menu and decide to try something new.  Alas, I have something sensational to write about.  The delicious cup of iced apple pie chai I have just acquired.  It's a light mix of Christmas and Spring all in one.  You'll notice a light hint of cinnamon and a touch of sweet apples.  Makes me want to close my eyes and sink into  peaceful dreams of picking apples and watching a bright blue sky pass by.  Stress and tension of a long day quickly melt away.  I am a child again with nothing better to do than sip a sweet glass of apple pie chai.