Today Was NOT A Saturday In The Park Kind Of Day !!!

My Saturday has been NO Saturday in the Park whatsoever, let me "Tell the World".  First off ....

".... see this little girl just a chillin' beside her "other" Master?"

Well let me tell you this morning was looking like ....

".... this with 90 km/hr winds and wet snow."

".... when "she" tried to literally pull the "goose over my eyes" by taking off across the field after these fine beauties first thing this morning.  Then after they had taken flight, she helped herself to what they had left behind .... yech !"

"Impressed was I?  I think NOT, and what a sight was I? still with my nightclothes on, a heavy old green coat and my big Baffin winter boots on, trekking across our field to get my hands on her !  I was some wet and "ticked" by the time we got back into the house.  No more "off leash" for the likes of little Missy Mercedes !  Just a tad "frazzled" I was ..."

".... and here I was almost ready to forgive her for the other "mishaps" she had pulled off beforehand.  These Yoga pants used to be very comfortable, as well as the underwear which are not included in the photo."

I am of the opinion that little Missy Mercedes is starting to go through a "terrible two" period.  I told my niece about the Yoga Pants, and she came back with, "I guess Mercedes doesn't like exercising either".  LOL, at least I laughed about that.  The wet snow down my boots and the wind almost knocking the wind out of me, was quite a different matter .....

I had great plans today, however as everyone well knows we need to be flexible in our lives, since plans do not always go the way we have set them out for ourselves some days.

I called my sister, Donna, who gave me a new Low Fat Blueberry recipe over the phone this morning.  I thought, "great, I will try these for myself and the "Crabby Cabbie" will have some for his lunches". 

"No sweat, got them all mixed up and into the oven in no time."

"Here they now lay to rest.  My whole wheat flour must have been stale, as I did not have it in an air-tight container, and rise the muffins did not.  Once again, I was was starting to feel a little bit irritated with this Saturday."

"The Yoga, underwear, and outside incident must have been my "three" things, as I managed to pull off making the "One Pot Macaroni & Beef" for lunch without a hitch."

Another easy peasy, as 1-2-3 recipe:

One Pot Macaroni & Beef

Recipe Source: Canadian Living

Ingredients
1 lb lean ground beef  (454 g)
1 onion , chopped
3 cloves garlic , minced
1 sweet green pepper , chopped
2 carrots , thinly sliced
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil 1  (5 mL)
1/2 tsp salt (2 mL)
1/2 tsp pepper (2 mL)
1 can (28 oz/796 mL) crushed tomatoes
2 cups macaroni
 2cups (500 mL) Scoobi-\Do pasta
1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese  (50 mL)
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley up(50 mL)
Preparation:
In Dutch oven or large deep saucepan, saute beef over medium-high heat, breaking up with spoon, until no longer pink, about 8 minutes. Drain off fat.

Add onion, garlic, green pepper, carrots, oregano, basil, salt and pepper to pan; cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, about 5 minutes.

Add tomatoes and 3 cups (750 mL) water; bring to boil. Stir in macaroni; reduce heat, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender but firm, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese and parsley.

After lunch and doing a sink full of dishes for the third time this day, I asked Rob to take me downtown to buy some "fresh" Whole Wheat Flour.  I was at the point I was bound and determined I was making those Blueberry Muffins, "Come Winds, Hell or High Snow" !

"The flour being "stale" had been the problem; with the new flour the second batch was a success.  Thank goodness !"

These are Low Fat muffins, approximately 150 calories per muffin, with very little sugar and whole wheat flour.  Should you try this recipe, do not expect a "sweet" what you are used to muffin.  The blueberries can be replaced or mixed with other "like" fruit.  I think next time I make a batch I will try a variation of "mixed" fruits.  I really liked the muffin, it will be a "Keeper".  Here is the recipe:

Blueberry Muffins (Low Fat)

1/4 cup Splenda, or Sugar

2 Tbsp. Becel Margarine or Butter

1 egg, beaten

2 cups whole wheat flour

2 Tsp. baking powder

1/2 Tsp. salt

1 cup milk (2% or 1%)

3/4 cup Blueberries, fresh or frozen

1/2 Tsp. Vanilla

Cream sugar and butter; add beaten egg.

Stir flour, baking powder, and salt; Add cream mixture alternately with milk; Add vanilla and blueberries.

Spoon into greased muffin tins (DO NOT use muffin liners, as they will not come away from a liner once baked because of the low fat).

Bake at 375*F for 25 minutes.  Note:  Oven temps vary

Recipe Source:  My Sister, Donna "Ree" (Masterson) Robertson

By the time it was all said and done, it was 3:00 pm, with my "Crabby Cabbie" heading out the door, and me not having anything I had planned on doing today accomplished !  Reminder to one's self, "be flexible".

When we were downtown Wiarton, I did have Rob slip in with me to see a carpet I thought would work in the secondary spare bedroom, which he had agreed would.  the room, along with the carpet "okay".

I am please to note that I have not only started on prepping the spare bedroom for the March Challenges, but also have .....

".... started a "Loonie Toonie Bunny" for Holiday savings.  Isn't he cute, my Mother had made him."

"As well as the Leslie Sansone, "Walk Away the Pounds", One Mile Workout."

To date there are four of us participating in the March "Get Your Plate in Shape", Eat Right Challenge I have begun.  Nice to know I am not going it alone !  Thanks for joining along with me, Bonnie, Sharon & Mrs. Thrifty !  Still time to join me, by checking it out HERE.  

"This is just how it is today .... no Saturday in the Park for me this day."

Already is is past 5:30 pm, time to think about heating myself up a bowl of that Roasted Cauliflower & Aged White Cheddar Soup I made yesterday, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Yet Another Challenge For March In The Works

"Ya George old boy, It's Finally Friday .... "



".... but I ain't got no 100 dollar bill smoking in my billfold, but I do got some Green Tea and a 6 pack of Yogurt in my Fridge !  LOL."


Ha,ha,ha !  Yes it is finally Friday again, meaning another weekly trip North of the Checkerboard for yet another "shot in the arm".  I didn't mind heading up there and back this morning, as the weather was really good.

Listening to the radio on the way up there I heard we are to get another 10 cm (approx. 4 in.) of snow tonight/tomorrow with high winds !  It did come in like a Lamb yesterday, so what's up with this nonsense?  Really though there are no complaints coming from me in this respect, especially when listening to the News to hear Tornados are moving across the States, in our neighbouring Country, The USA.

This I cannot imagine or want to experience personally, knowing the damage caused and people without homes this past year by a Tornado in our own backyard of Goderich, Ontario.  Prayers going out to all that fatalities will be NIL for the States, and for both my Aunts & Uncles, who left driving for Florida this past Wednesday morning, that they will be kept safe, as well as my many, dear to me, American Acquaintances I have made over the past few years.

With the February Decluttering Challenge now behind, I have began my own Eat Right Challenge (and weight loss), since March is National Nutrition Month,

"This is why I need to do the "Get My Plate Into Shape" with my Eat Right Challenge, so I no longer look like this.  Still though, those hips are pretty shapely looking, are they not?  LOL."

This morning, I recorded my weight and measurements:

Weight/Height:
 150 lbs : 5'5"

Measurements:
Hips:         41 inches (child bearing they have always been)
Stomach:   38 inches (oh man, should be no more then 35 inches)
Waist:       32 inches (used to be 28 and even less at one time)
Breasts:     36 inches (used to be a carpenter's delight for many prior years)

With increasing my daily exercise and "Getting My Plate Into Shape", better then I have been (no eating between mealtimes), I hope to see a change, in at least the weight, by the end of March (going to be tough since I have a Birthday Cake day in there somewhere).

Wednesday night, I dusted off my Wii Fit Board and CD, and got started with that program.  Yesterday I had a one hour exercise period with the VON SMART group, and did a one hour walk around Wiarton with my friend.  Today yet, I plan on putting the Leslie Sansone, "Walk Away the Pounds" CD and getting started  (it has been 1 1/2 years I have done it, since I had knee surgery) on this program again, beginning with the One Mile workout.

I did check my BMI today.  I am not overweight, but on the border line.  Also there are a couple pair of jeans/pants I would be much more comfortable in if I were to loose 30 10 lbs (where I was 2 years ago, *sigh*).

Here are a couple links to "check tools" which I found to be very helpful as guidelines:

BMI Indicator:  http://www.eatright.org/bmi/

Waist Circumferences:   http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/index.html

To date, I have only had one person come up to the plate thus far in wanting to join me in regarding my "Getting My Plate Into Shape" challenge.  Thanks Bonnie, I hope to hear from you again.  Hopefully we can be of  encouragement to each other via email.

Any other takers, I would absolutely "love the company" !

I have also signed up with another challenge, once again over at Carla's, My 1/2 Dozen Daily.  This Challenge Carla is having is for Finance/Personal/Decluttering, also for the Month of March.  I have chosen to do all three (3) as follows:

Personal:
1)  Prep and Paint the secondary Spare bedroom which was decluttered in February.
2)  Begin learning the Strength and Flexibility exercises for the VON SMART, where I volunteer once a
week, so I can begin instructing.

Finance:
1)  Record all "Crabby Cabbie" transactions in the books every week.
2)  Start a jar/container for loonies & toonies to go towards a much needed Holiday for Rob and myself
(hopefully some Year, but thinking I should start saving now, lol)

Decluttering:
1)  Hallway & Bathroom Closets
2)  Clean and organize our Freezers (since I had too much going to do in February)
3)  Downstairs entry ~ coats, boots, hats, gloves, doggie leashes, etc...

I am pretty sure my plate is now full for the Month of March, as we also have our #1 Riptail Snorter, Aiden, coming for the week of March Break.   I am absolutely tickled inside out in anticipation of him coming for a week !!!

Oh and as for today?  Today I made a Roasted Cauliflower & Aged Cheddar Cheese Soup for the "Crabby Cabbie's" lunches.

"Cauliflower prepped and tossed in Olive Oil, Salt & Pepper."

"Into the 400*F Oven it goes for 20 minutes."

"Twenty minutes up with it going into the prepared broth."

"Next going in is, cheese please !"

"The final ingredient is the 1 cup of milk."

Roasted Cauliflower and Aged White Cheddar Soup

Recipe Source: Kevin @ Closet Cooking 

Roasted Cauliflower and Aged White Cheddar Soup ~ A creamy white cheddar cauliflower soup with a hint of thyme. 

Servings: 4+ servings 

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 50 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes

Ingredients

1 small head cauliflower, cut into florets

2 tablespoons oil

salt and pepper to taste

1 tablespoon oil

1 medium onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 tablespoon thyme, chopped

3 cups vegetable broth

1 1/2 cups aged white cheddar, shredded

1 cup milk or cream

salt and pepper to taste

Directions: 

Toss the cauliflower florets in the oil along with the salt and pepper and arrange them in a single layer on a large baking sheet. 

Roast the cauliflower in a preheated 400F oven until lightly golden brown, about 20-30 minutes.

Heat the oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat. 

Add the onion and saute until tender, about 5-7 minutes. 

Add the garlic and thyme and saute until fragrant, about a minute. 

Add the broth and cauliflower, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. 

Puree the soup until it reaches your desired consistency with a stick blender. 

Mix in the cheese, let it melt and season with salt and pepper. 

Mix in the milk and remove from heat.

"A 10* Star recipe in my books .... "

I also got started on prepping the spare bedroom:

"Half done stripping the nasty Goose border."

That was pretty much the most of my day so far here, so Leslie Sansone, watch out here I come, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".