New Ventures...

It has been SO long since I have blogged...and when I think about it, nothing funny is going on in my life, so I don't think to blog.  But I thought I would blog about my new venture....dinner.  Period.

I know.  Simple right?  Not for someone like me.  I simply don't get it.  So every night, in an attempt to meet the hunger needs of my family (no matter how many times I feed them, they ALWAYS seem to get hungry AGAIN!) I attempt a meal.  And my family is here to tell you more times than not it ISN'T pretty (AND doesn't taste good1)  Lately no more boxes.  I used to be frozen meal, or order out, queen.  But my body is showing the ill effects of it, so in an attempt to gather back my health (and my body 20 pounds ago) I am trying to actually cook - from scratch....many times resulting in EPIC failure.  I won't post those here....there are many!

Last week I had chicken and I went to the weight watchers website and saw fried rice....thought IMMEDIATELY of my Cambodian friend and asked her how to make it.  Simple - brown little diced chicken, cook brown rice....scramble a few eggs....dice up carrots, broccoli and any other veggie I could find, add frozen peas and her Asian soy sauce and voila!  A meal....took half an hour (oh, the rice did take 45 minutes but I cooked it at lunch time.)

The family LOVED it....they REALLY loved it.  And now I FINALLY understand why people who love to cook love it....it is such a joy to see your family really enjoy something you made....I mean, I get that every time I bake - my family LOVES everything I bake, but I don't do it all the time simply because it isn't healthy to eat baked goods all the time.  But to see them LOVE a healthy meal....I can't describe it.  It was simply awesome.

So, my solution?  Every Monday we will have fried rice.  Now all I have to do is find 5 more meals for the week and that allows for one night of pizza or who cares what and we will be good to go.  My family is good that way.  I know some families would rather die than eat the same meal every Monday or Tuesday, etc....but thankfully not mine.  They are easy and will look forward to that meal on its prescribed day.  Isn't that the way life is anyway?  Monday, guitar lessons.  Tuesday math club and Volleyball.  Wednesday youth group.  Thursdays whatever....it is the way we live.  Same thing when we grow up.  Monday is work....monday night gym.  Tuesday work - tuesday nigh family game night.  Wednesday more of the same.  So I believe that if I don't give them options, they have no choice but to look forward to the next day....I am sure I would feel differently if I could "whip up" dinner delights every night without much thought, but I am 46 years old and STILL struggling to find 6 meals I can make that taste good and don't overwhelm me!  What can I say?  Welcome to my nightmare.

So, today is fried rice.  Still looking for those other 5 meals, and I am thinking tortellini or spaghetti is another one - after that, I'm back to the drawing board.

Until next time....

Lord save me from myself....

The deeper I got into Pinterest, the deeper I got into baking.  It has GOT to be the artist in me because Lord knows I really HATE the kitchen.  I found a few great sites that had some amazing pictures of decorated sugar cookies and after my Christmas madness, I have been itching to decorate again.  The baking is simply a by-product of the need to decorate.  So, I think when we get home from skiing and have a day or two left before school starts up again, I will use that leftover butter and cream cheese and bake some cookies.  Then Raechyl, Terri, Adam and I can have at it.  So many cookies....so little time.

I'm still sitting at the lodge in Jiminy Peak (Mass) waiting while my family skis.  I ski, but two shoulder surgeries in a row (exactly one year apart) and a back that never seems to stop throbbing these days means I am prudent, staying in the lodge.  Eric doesn't call it prudent....he would much rather be on the lifts with me (than alone) and skiing down with me and I get that.  Maybe next time I come I'll strap on those sticks and go for a run or two.  I said it THursday at Okemo....next race I'm buying a lift ticket cause I NEVER want to hike a mountain like that again.  Far better to take the chair lift UP and ski DOWN....rather than HIKE UP!  AND HIKE DOWN - that SUCKED (sorry but it did).  I was so irritated I wouldn't even take pictures (actually it was COLD up there....) Anna and Rae just came in for a food break.  Anna boards....always wanted to do that, but shoulders are an issue now so I'll stick to skiing.  Adam and Eric (as usual) won't come in until they are starving or til someone kicks them off the mountain.  I LOVE it!

The bloodspot I found with all the decorated cookies is Ali's Bee's Bake Shop (www.snargblog.blogspot.com).  It is an awesome website for ideas.  Last night Anna, Rae and Adam made a great short movie trailer called "Agent 84 - Jumping into Action".  It was SO awesome.  As soon as I figure out how to post it to fb I will.  Still on a learning curve with Mac....but making GREAT progress.  

My phone issues seem to have resolved themselves for now, but I'm not holding my breath.  The Mac seems fine also.  Even our TV is working now that we have a new box.  Yes I know, I'm ALL over the place here....welcome to my nightmare.

As I look forward to 2012 I want to wish all my loved ones blessings beyond their wildest imagination (thats the kind of God we serve - the kind that pleasures in blowing our minds with His love!), safety and health beyond measure.  As for me, I will cling tight to my Lord first, my family next.  My friends are my family, so you all fit in to the family category here,..I look forward to new friendships, growing in love and peace and finding my way in this every changing world....

Until next time....(and maybe next blog will have pictures of MY cookies - lol)...

adam skiing