Prayer Cloth

One of my really great friends found out that her son has osteosarcoma.  It's a bone cancer.  My sister had osteogenicsarcoma before passing when I was a kid. So this sadness and struggle for her family really hit home for me and I wanted to do something meaningful and nice for her.  I saw a free pattern online and thought what a cool idea.  I attached a little letter with it.  Nothing fancy but from the heart since I know God is bigger than what's happening.

Fall Soup Goodness

Fall is upon us! I love this time of the year it's my favorite. The air begins to cool and become crisp and refreshing with no or less NC humidity! Another great thing about fall is soup. And better yet...Soup in homemade bread bowls. Mmmm. As an earlier post says I sold myself for a blender for a few days. Not just any blender but a Vitamix blender the blender to end all blenders!!! Yes I love my blender. I had better I cleaned for days to get it!
So the soup you are wondering...What is it lady! Ok ok I am going I am going....

Butternut Squash Soup

1 really large butternut squash about 6 lbs. Washed.
1 large yam/ sweet potato
1 onion
4 oz butter
2 Tbs brown sugar
3 Tbs molasses
salt
pepper
knob of fresh ginger grated
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp cyanine pepper
zest and juice from one orange
2-3 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
1-2 cloves garlic grated
2 c milk
1 c heavy cream
3-4 c of left over liquid/water from roasting the squash

1. Preheat oven to 375˚F.
2. Place the squash on a flat surface and split them in half lengthwise. Scrape out the seeds and arrange in a single layer on one or two baking sheets.
3. In a small saucepan, melt 4 ounces of the butter completely over medium heat. Wait until it starts to turn a light brown color. Remove from heat and immediately distribute the butter into the cavities of the squash halves. Sprinkle with the brown sugar and Molasses as well.
4. Season the insides with salt and pepper. Finish by covering with the ginger, fresh ginger, and the ground cloves. Fill the bottom of the tray(s) with the water (should be about 1 inch high) to create steam while the squash bakes in the oven. Cover the tray(s) with aluminum foil and seal the edges tightly. Wrap the sweet potato and onion in aluminum foil and set aside.
5. Place the tray(s) in the center of the oven and bake the squash, undisturbed, for 2 hours. Place the sweet potato and onion in the oven to roast after 1 hr. They do not take as long. To check for doneness, pierce one of the halves with the tip of a small knife. The knife should slide in and out easily. If at all firm, bake the halves an additional 30-45 minutes. Remove from the oven. Carefully peel back the foil. Set aside to cool.
6. Using a large spoon, scoop the flesh from the squash, taking care not to take any skin with it. The skin can give a bitter flavor; however, take care to retain all of the cooking liquid inside the squash. That will add a lot of flavor to the soup. Gather all of the squash in a large pot. Turn the heat on low. Add some of the orange zest, the orange juice, the Worcestershire Sauce and the garlic. Add the brown butter. Stir to blend. Taste for seasoning. If the squash lacks sweetness, add a little Molasses. If it lacks salt, add a little salt or Worcestershire Sauce.
7. In a large pot, heat the skim milk, heavy cream, and two cups of the water. Season the liquid with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer.
8. Add the squash and stir to blend. Once the mixture has returned to a simmer, taste for seasoning.
9. Place 4 cups of soup into the Vitamix container and secure lid.
10. Select Variable 1.
11. Turn machine on and slowly increase to Variable 10, then to High.
12. Blend for 30 seconds or until smoothly puréed. Carefully transfer to pot or serving bowl. Repeat with remaining soup.
13. If the soup needs more flavor, add salt, extra orange zest or pepper, as needed. If the soup is too thick, add the additional cup of water and blend.

I made homemade bread bowls to accompany! I toasted the tops and insides I pulled out to use as dippers for the soup. 

For the second day because it made so much soup we had left overs and I had some left over turkey loin from the other day. I chopped that up and tossed it in the soup and oh my gosh. The perfect accompaniment! I love fall...the fun...the food.

Greek Yogurt Pancakes

Sometimes nothing tastes better than some breakfast for dinner. Last night was definitely one of those nights and I was craving pancakes bad. The problem is they are low in protein high in carbs and a lot of the recipes for the high protein pancakes are just face it not that good and not fluffy and I love fluffy pancakes! Now to be fair I have tried a couple of recipes that were ok but this is by far my favorite. Not the most low carb on the planet but a bit healthier with the added yogurt so I wasn't feeling to bad.

Greek Yogurt Pancakes
Serves 8 generous sized pancakes
156 Cals
7.7g Protein

2 (5.3 fl.oz.) containers of Greek yogurt I used strawberry banana because that's what I had and it was a large tub
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
6 TBS + extra if batter is to thin
2 cups bisquick

Whisk all the wet ingredients together. Then mix in the bisquick. Add extra milk if to thick.
Cook as normal.

Now if you want the best pancake ever I recommend adding peanut butter and syrup for toppings!

To much hate and sadness

I keep seeing on the news all of this sad stuff with ISIS and people dying and being mutilated and them all doing it in the name of faith and it just breaks my heart, makes me furious, so angry, and scared all at the same time. Jesus is coming soon folks.
I keep reading so much information because it's everywhere on the TV,  news, your news feed on Facebook, and all of your other social media outlets are so full of reports and articles you just can't seem to get away from it and some of it has so much conflicting information about Islam and what it teaches that it makes me question what is real and what is an extremist view. Let's face it each religion has their extremist wacko nut jobs. My husband was raised you as a Muslim being from Morocco and I know that so much of what they're saying about his faith is not what he believes or was taught. Being a Christian not knowing much about his faith other than what I was taught or read leads me to asking questions and he is so patient and answers all of them without being angry at me because I get curious about his faith and how we are both similar and different. (This gives us an interesting dynamic for our marriage that's for sure but I get to learn a lot which is cool.) And lately if what I keep reading, seeing, or hearing is what he was taught to believe or as a general rule belief even if he doesn't believe something himself.
Of course all of this terrible stuff that they're saying my husband says it's not really what is taught but it makes me scared that someone is going to be ignorant and believe that and not be nice to my husband which makes me angry very angry; and it makes me angry that people are twisting faith to justify killing all of these people and it just makes me sick. My husband is a big boy and can of course take care of himself and he is super smart but I don't like the idea of people taking out on him what some terrorist fanatics are doing on the other side of the world.
I figure my blog I can rant for a minute about this stuff...It's the point of one right.

Getting back on track

During this trip back home I have fallen off the wagon so to speak. I just can't seem to crawl back on! Luckily I haven't gained or anything but I keep bouncing around in this same 1 pound instead of loosing. I think to myself ok. Today is the day to be good and get back on track and then BAM night hits and I fail. I am not sure why this is happening but it's ticking me off big time as I need to get with it and do what I am supposed to.  And I need to get better with getting my water in too. I wonder if that has anything to do with the night time snacking. Well today is the day I will do my best to make wise choices and STICK WITH THEM and starting next week when my burn is better I will be back to water aerobics so I am hoping that will help too.

Darn extended vacations messing a girl up!

As close as it gets to a farmers market in Clarkston, WA

Was helping my mum by doing the grocery shopping and I thought ooo Hays Produce! It's a little local fruit and veg market they have here. Kinda spendy but always really great produce. I went in to pick up some giant cantaloupes and some peaches/apples for the week. Well not only did I leave with that but 2 of the cutest baskets ever! (I have a basket obsession) and some raw local honey. My hubs loves the honey from here so when I can get it I (aka remember when I visit too) I pick some up. It really wasn't bad at all 2lb 8oz jug for about 19 bucks. We won't talk about how much the baskets were...shhhh! If I don't speak of it, it never happened! Here is the yummy goodness. OOO and see my cute new grey bag in the background! Yes!

Picked up the mail too and I got a wild crazy hair up my tookus that I was going to see what I looked like in an old 1950's high waisted bikini. NO I am not that lady that looses 100+ pounds and hits the beach in her new wrinkly skin. I don't think there is anything wrong with doing that I just happen to be Really REALLY self conscious and it would stop me from having a good time. Those who can rock that confidence I am actually envious of. Anyway I digress. I saw this suit for 10 bucks online and thought what the heck! There are free returns right. And I could wear this for my hubs in the backyard running through the sprinkler or something. So I get it yesterday and try it on. Epic fail! It fits great. But it is definitely not what I had imagined. Why did the bottoms come up higher on the model I kept sighing to myself. And oh my gosh the whiteness and extra fluff I still have! Of course I show it to my mom who thinks I look like Minnie Mouse! But she likes it for the backyard. I sent the hubs a picture of me in my new glorious suit and he liked it too. Maybe it's me. You see so much this time of year about people being made fun of for not being that hot sexy tight 20 y/o with a body fat % of 10 in a bikini that I don't dare hit the beach. My hubby thinks I am a hot sexy 31 y/o with a well bit more body fat % so I am going with that. I'm bringing fluffy sexy back...All you haters don't know how to act...kickem to the curb...or however that song bringing sexy back goes.   ;)

 

This weekend my cousin WD came down as I mentioned in an earlier post. Well her grandma and my grandma are sisters. They are BFF's to the core. Well they were on vacation on a sisters holiday that they do every so often and one of my second cousins V (WD's aunt) photo bombed their picture they took of their feet with some matching sandals they had bought. So to be funny we picked up some matching sandals and had my second cousin who came down with WD photo bomb us so that we could print the picture out and give it to them as a funny matching picture for their fridges since we are BFF's too. These are some sexy feet right here let me tell you! I am rocking those flip flops with red toes haha!

 

Another funny story from this weekend my grandmother invited us to dinner last night and I had to laugh so hard. I am thinking great I can't wait zucchini lasagna! I love zucc lasagna! Especially since it's the zucc from her garden. I get up there and she gives me a disclaimer about how this was her first try at this recipe and how it's not quite like she had imagined it would turn out. It was a giant pot of sauce, cheese, and meat with a few noodles floating here and there. She goes um...Let's dip our bread in it that will fix it! I dubbed it inside out lasagna stew! Man was it good though. I gave her a few hints for the zucc for next time.

 

I also had to stop the baking for a while which is why I haven't posted any new recipes. I have been going hog wild crazy and falling off my meal strategy/plan and am wanting to get back on that ASAP. My hubs sent me a pic and he has lost SOOO much weight while at school. by the time he gets back I will be able to do laundry on his abs the sucker!

 

Well I am off to make some turkey gyro sammies for lunch with lots of veggies!



My long lost gorgeous cousin visits

Two of my cousins from Montana drove down to see me for the weekend.  It has been 7 years since I had seen WD. It was so amazing to see her.  I didn't realize how much I had missed and now do miss her again. We had so much fun despite some sad circumstances that feel on our poor family the day before they arrived. We shopped and shopped. And found her a new kitty she adopted! Boy was she a cutie.  We stayed up late and had a chance to catch up. I am really really going to be better at keeping in touch. She has such a beautiful heart and I miss her tons! It's too bad we don't live closer but there is a chance in 5 years we might so that is something to look forward too.