ChangeTime! Recipe: Shepherd's Pie

My husband and I have started ChangeTime! with John Cena, we have been in it a whole of 3 weeks, and I have lost 5.8 lbs taking a full week break (not recommended, but my will-power crumbed out cuz it was my hubby's b-day!)  I am so incredibly proud of us.

The hardest thing I'm having trouble with is the recipes, don't get me wrong there are good ones, the problem is my hubby is THE PICKIEST EATER ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET hehe.  I love him to death, but no beans, no fish, no sprouts, no peas, no legumes, no onions, no, no, no.  Especially since the entire recipe booklet this week is "Legume Recipes" Yay!!! :'(.

So in order to stay on John's Plan I have needed to seriously adjust and test some recipes.  Over the course of the next ...however long I am able to stick with this - hopefully forever, I will be putting up ChangeTime! Style recipes.

Keep in mind I am no way affiliated with ChangeTime.  These are NOT official recipes, these are ones that I have created using foods that fit in his categories to the best of my abilities.

Here's the delectable, totally delicious meal we had for dinner tonight.

Shepherd's Pie
By Letia Michelle Ames
2-3 servings

1 lb Italian Sausage
1-2 heads Cauliflower
1 lb Mushrooms (I used 4 oz. shiitake, 6 oz. button, and 6 oz white but you can use your favorites.)
2 Green Onions
1/2 c. Almond Milk
1-2 t. Basalmic Vinegar
1-2 T. ground Pecans
Pepper
Garlic Powder

For the "Potatoes:" In a medium pan boil water and add the head of Cauliflower - I found 1 head of cauliflower barely fills our family - I will do 2 next time to give us leftovers.  Once they are fork tender drain.  Add butter and garlic and salt and pepper, put in a Magic Bullet or blender and blend until creamy.  You can leave them "chunky" but the texture isn't quite "mashed potato like" and I wasn't fooled.  When I creamed them I honestly couldn't tell the difference.  You can put these on top if you'd like but since we can't have cheese I didn't want to be reminded of that and I poured the Sausage Gravy over top.

For the Sausage Gravy: In a skillet brown the sausage with the mushrooms and the green onions.  Add pepper and garlic powder - I would recommend no salt as the Italian sausage was plenty salty enough for my families taste, but once it is brown ensure that the flavors are around where you want.  Add your vinegar (I added a splash of Worschester, but I don't know if that's on John Cena's approved list or not.) Add the almond milk, after letting it cook for a few minutes grind up your pecans (I use a magic bullet to grind nuts, but you can use a nut grinder, coffee grinder, or chop them finely.) The hope is to get them as powder like as possible.  These are your thickening agents, and it worked really beautifully.  Once the gravy is thickened to your liking scoop over your potatoes and enjoy!

Becoming a Second Time Mama

Sweet Pea, 31 weeks Exactly, 4 lbs 2 oz.

I'm 32 weeks pregnant tomorrow.  With my first, She-she, I was in the hospital by this time and having her at 35 weeks.  Though I'm considered really high risk, I'm still able to be at home (on bed-rest) and we're currently looking like we're going to make it past that 35 week mark.  Being on bed-rest you have a lot of time to think, read, and ponder.

Earlier today in one of my mama's groups I was linked a rather awesome article called 7 Things I'll Do Differently with Baby Number Two.  And it got me thinking about what I'd do different and what I'd do the same, because lets face it, even the worst of us mothers have a few attributes that are awesome, recognizing those is a key part in keeping sane!  Here are some of the things I've come up with.

Things I will continue to do as a Mother:

1. Inspire a love of learning and reading.  This has been goal number one with my first daughter.  She is 4 and already we're reading novels with her at bedtime.  She questions everything, and her favorite part of the week is science projects or maybe art projects.

2. Talk to my children like I'd talk to people.  So often I see people talking to children like they are dumb or know nothing, its the same when some people talk to older people, feeble does not mean brain dead.  Nor does not fully understanding mean that we should talk about them as though they're not there.  This is the greatest way to teach children and to help them boost their self esteem (or hinder it if they hear you talking your friends about their short comings).  It also inspires them to ask questions.  Even a baby who cannot speak yet is picking up on your speech patterns with him or her, not to mention body language, facial expressions, and inflections.

3. Cuddle.  Healthy touch is vital to a baby's growth, tickling, cuddling, hugs, kisses, teach children what's ok and what's not, also while showing affection in great ways.  This includes cuddling and healthy touch with their father.  I want my girls to see what real love should be like.

4. Share my passions and talents.  When my daughter was three we started sewing together.  True it was with a yarn needle and on felt, but its something she still sees me doing and knows I enjoy doing.  Showing her my passions and talents and helping her find her own are major points I want to encourage with baby Sweet Pea.

5. Encourage them to try new things.  Be it food or a ride at the fair, I want to instill in my girls a curiosity in the world around them.  I have never been good at trying new things, I much prefer the comforts of the familiar, which is why this is probably so high on my list.  There have been a few times when She-she has requested to try a vegetable that I've never had, or asked for something I've never heard of, together we expand our worlds, and try these new things out.

She-she, a few days old, 2009

6. Keep loving in all facets.  When She-she was born I was floored by how much love my heart could hold for her.  Now that her little sister is coming, she's a bit wary that I'll love the new baby more than her, we have discussed how mama's heart will grow more space for the new baby, not take away any space from her.  I hope that I can continue to show her that love.

Things I will do better as a second time Mother:

1.  I will let go of stress and fear.  This is so hard for me, heck I'm on anti-anxiety meds because of stress.  But if there's one thing being on bed-rest is teaching me is that I can let go of things and not internalize.  Stress and fear are not good for anyone, me, my children, or my husband.

2. I will not compare.  This one I know will beat me down.  I've already been guilty of it in this pregnancy, expecting my Sweet Pea to put me in the hospital at 31 weeks.  I am afraid I'll panic if she's not talking by 12 months, or walking by 14.  What if she's not potty trained at 3... Etc. Etc.  Letting go of this will make my life better, and is a major goal of mine.  This will also apply to comparing my housekeeping skills.  I have a mother-in-law and sister-in-law who are expert house keepers.  I, sadly, am not.  I need to get to a place where I am pleased with what I can do and let the rest go.

3. I will keep patience.  Anyone who has a child knows that no matter how much patience you had in the beginning you need more!  I hope to be a strong example of patience this round.  Some days are better than others with She-she, and I know that having Sweet Pea here will just continue to help me learn it.

4.  I will accept what I cannot change and change what I cannot accept.  Right now my husband and I are discussing whether or not to move to Idaho to be closer to my family.  I am working hard on accepting that this may or may not happen as it is not really in my hands.  I will also work hard on changing our eating patterns to ensure we're getting enough protein and working toward healthier lifestyles, especially getting my husband's sugar levels under control.

5.  I will be more proactive.  When I was young my dad would have family meetings about being proactive.  I always tried to listen and put these things into effect, but now as I have become a woman, a wife, and a stay at home mom, I am becoming very aware that I often will set things aside until its crunch time, which adds stress and burdens my household, and particularly my husband.  With this baby I am hoping to keep up with my house, and plan further ahead with laundry, dinner, and outings.  I love planning, so I want to make my life more of a plan.

White Basalmic Egg Salad

Day three of my Gestational Diabetes log didn't start as well as I'd hoped, my fasting numbers were close - at 95, they wanted to see them under 90, but my after breakfast (felt icky so I grabbed a bowl of cereal rather than a protein packed breakfast) my sugars skyrocketed to 182.  My highest number yet!

So terrified I brainstormed and came up with a high protein, low-carb (only 6 carbs in all) solution.

The White Balsamic Egg Salad
      (Single Serving)

3 Hard Boiled Eggs
1.5 T McCormick Mayo, with Lime
.5 T (2 t.) White Balsamic Vinegar
1/4 t. each of Salt, Pepper, and Garlic Powder

If you've never made an egg salad before, its incredibly simple, boil the eggs for 15 minutes, let cool, peel, mash up with a fork, and throw all the ingredients in.

The reason this one makes my list of "extreme yummies" is the white balsamic vinegar, I found myself out of pickle juice one day and swapped in some balsamic, the white just makes it that much more flavorful.  The consistency of it is salad is divine, creamy and rich, but still chunky (If you like smoother eggs feel free to mash more!)  The other fun thing with this Egg Salad is the versatility of eating, I put mine as a lettuce wrap because I didn't want the extra carbs from bread, but its also great to use as a dip for carrots, celery, and peppers too!

Nutritional Notes: Total meal for all 3 eggs in 3 lettuce wraps 429 calories, 6 carbs, 33 g of fat, 20 g of protein. Use light mayo, or 2 egg whites and one whole egg to reduce fat!

Caribbean Jerk Lettuce Wraps

I was recently diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes, which for a mama like me, who enjoys food way too much, was devastating, especially since my sugar levels can't be assisted by extra exercise as I'm on bed-rest!

So my husband and I have started a quest to find / make awesome, filling, easy-to-make food.  The first one that we have found is the Caribbean Jerk Lettuce Wraps.  Only 363 calories for three wraps!

1 bag frozen Kroger Italian-style Meatballs (ground beef)

1 bottle Caribbean Jerk Marinade

½ c. Barley

1 carrot

1 head lettuce

Greek Yogurt

Bring to boil meatballs, marinade, and barley, reduce to simmer and boil for an hour, adding water as needed.

Chop up carrots into fine “sticks”. In a large lettuce leaf place two meatballs, marinade, and a few tablespoons of barley, sprinkle with carrot sticks and add a dollup of Greek Yogurt.  For 3 wraps, under 400 calories!

Normally I would make these with home-made meatballs, but as I said, I'm on bed-rest, so adjustments have been made!  Feel free to substitute out your own favorite meatball.

**Try adding chunks of pineapple, or almonds for an extra yummy kick!**

Staying Home - can it be in our future?

Pregnancy is always a miracle, my little She-she was born 5 weeks premature, my water broke at 31 weeks and I was in the hospital for 4 weeks to keep her in.  Today she is a happy and healthy two year old, filled with laughter, a sweet spirit, and joy.  I remember thinking while I was pregnant with her that life is so amazing, and loving the opportunity to be a stay at home mom.  And now three years later despite the difficulties in finances and sacrifices we have made to allow me to stay home, I wouldn't give up my time with her for anything.  


I understand that the opportunity to be a stay at home mom is not available or the best choice for everyone, but for us its really been our only option.  We have a relationship of trust and friendship, while still offering me the time to establish my role as mom and authority figure.  It also allows me the opportunity to know what she eats, when she sleeps, who she's learning from, what we need to work on, shapes or letters, numbers or colors, etc.

Often moms don't get the choice between staying at home or daycare, their decision is made by their fiscal means, in some cases we must work, but who do we leave our children with when child care costs so much?  The demands and requirements of child care continually grow.  


State and government legislation, licensing, insurance coverage, liabilities (all necessary for the safety of our children) make it harder and harder to find a good daycare with all the safety features that doesn't break the bank.  And working at them pays barely more than minimum wage.


When we found a babysitter/in home daycare for She-she during my temping position she charged $195 a week.  Since I was a temp and worked hourly and had no paid time off, when She-she got a fever teething the rules stated simply that she couldn't go to daycare, I still had to pay full price for the week (standard in the industry).  Three days I was home with a teething baby not getting paid while the daycare was paid to ensure we kept our spot.  I paid her more than I made that week, and averaged only about $50-100 a week for the the entire temping time.  Had that position kept up for me I would have paid her wages for full time (despite the fact that She-she was there only from 9-1) with two weeks of sick leave and a week of paid vacation, which I was not receiving.  The cheapest daycare I found was only twenty dollars cheaper at $175.  None of it is unreasonable at $4.38 an hour, especially considering the licenses, the insurances, etc., but when you make $8 an hour and don't get paid time off yourself its really hard, because who wants to send a sick sweetie to daycare?

The US Census Bureau reported a rise of 22% of stay at home moms between 1994 and 2005.  Checking in at 5.6 million women.  (According to webmd.com link below.)

However the numbers indicated in 2009 that the number of stay at home moms had not risen any more. 

So much of society and the economy relies on two incomes, and often when women do choose to "opt out" of employment it is women who have the intention of going back as soon as their little ones enter school.

The problem comes with the "can we afford daycare" vs. "can we afford not to work"?

Sources: 

http://www.webmd.com/baby/features/hard-choice-for-moms-work-stay-home

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/30/AR2009093005106_2.html?sid=ST2009100100170

Waves of Work: Turning Unmotivated into Motivated

We all reach points in our lives where we are just unmotivated.  Whether its because you feel like you follow behind your kids and hubby all day picking up messes, you're missing your old out of the home job, your overwhelmed by bills and your to do list, or your sick (or just sick and tired!).  But even when our motivation levels are on empty the work still has to be done, the unending glories of motherhood...

Here are a few ways to "get through it" and help push yourself: 

1.) "Waves of Work" ~ This one is particularly effective when you're sick or pregnant, simply go in waves, push yourself hard until you feel like you simply can't do any more, and then sit down and take a breath, play a Facebook game, chat with a friend.  When you feel like you've recovered a bit (or you need to go to the restroom or get up for more water, etc.) get up and push yourself through another wave.  It will take a little extra time but it will get done!

2.) "Fifteen Minute Timer" ~ Literally.  Put yourself in a "cleaning time out."  Set the timer for 15 minutes and test yourself to find out how much you can do!  I've seen this as competitions on mommy boards (and have competed!) and its very effective.  If you have kids add them to it too and have a friendly competition.

3.) "Circles" ~ Break the cleaning into different stages.  Do a circle around your living room and pick up all the toys.  Do another circle and pick up all the laundry.  Do another circle and pick up all the dishes.  Do another circle and...  See how many circles you need to get it done.  I typically take 3-5 circles with my two year old.

4.) "Chore Wars!" ~ A website that helps make cleaning fun.  http://www.chorewars.com/index.php  If you're a gamer its a fun twist on cleaning. 

5.) "Reward" ~ Offer yourself a reward for a clean house, a trip to the mall to window shop, a picnic at a park, a "luxury" dinner, an extra tv show.  Avoid high calories or spending lots of money though! hehe. 

What do you do to help yourself stay motivated and keep your house clean?  

A Steak Dinner for Two for $8

Steak is one of our guilty pleasures, but with tight finances we very rarely indulge in its pleasure.  When my mom started talking about their Texas Roadhouse trip my mouth started watering, but the idea of dropping $40 for the two of us was a luxury that we shouldn't allow for.  So we went to "Wallie-World" and bought two semi-nice steaks for about $5.  We added a baked potato  Then we prepared it and had a picnic in the living room.

This is our "go to" when we want a "fancier" steak, a steak that even my mom, the unofficial spokesperson for Heinz 57, enjoys without any of the steak sauce which means that it cuts out those extra calories.

Mushroom and Garlic Smothered Steak and Squish Potato

I had planned on adding a side salad with it, but we used the last of our Bountiful Basket lettuce yesterday for lettuce wraps.  :(

Quick and Dirty Wedge Salad

1 head of Iceberg lettuce "cored" and quartered (1 per person)
Crumbled Feta Cheese
Pecans
Craisins
Cherry Tomatoes
Dress with a Light Raspberry Vinaigrette

The beauty of the wedge salad is its simplicity, you can alter and adjust it easily and its beautiful and makes for a lovely start to a home made delectable meal.

Grilled Seasoned Squish Potato

Wash Potatoes
While moist lay Potatoes on Foil, sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic powder liberally.
Wrap up the foil.  Toss on the grill and close the grill.  (The skin will most likely have "burn spots" but those are some of my favorite parts hehe.)
Once finished slice the potato once down the middle, taking the ends of the potato in each hand, "Squish" it together.  It will bloom like the picture above.

Mushroom and Garlic Smothered Steak

2 Steaks (about 6-8 oz)
Montreal Seasoning

1 package of mushrooms (sliced)
1/2 a head of garlic, crushed and lightly chopped

Season both with:
Salt
Pepper
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder

The biggest tip we have for making excellent steaks is time, give it time to rest well, rest it often, and time the cook time.  My husband uses the stopwatch app on his phone, he is so meticulous!

As soon as you are about to prep your steak and potato dinner, pull your steaks out of the fridge and season them well.  We like the seasonings above.

Season Your Steaks

Then set it aside and let it rest while you prepare the potatoes and immediately stick them on the grill.  Your potatoes take between 30-45 minutes depending on altitude, size of potatoes, and the heat of your grill.

Then begin on your mushroom and garlic (or other veggie topping) you can top it with anything from caramelized onions to peppers.  Using the flat of your knife crush the garlic and peel it.

Using a tablespoon of butter in a skillet, add the mushrooms and garlic, I cook mine on medium-low to medium.  Again timing is the key here, let the flavors meld together and the mushrooms sweat.  I usually wait until they are about 3/4 the size they were before I let my hubby have the meat for the grill.  When they hit about half the size they were they're done and I usually turn off the heat and let them sit on the warm pan and stove until the steaks are ready.

By this time the potatoes have usually cooked between 10-15 minutes.  Using a little bit of cooking oil on a paper-towel and long handled grill tool grease the grill well.  Set the meat on a high heat hot grill, and use below for timing.

For a 1 inch thick Steak to be medium/medium rare:

2 minutes a quarter turn one way (from noon to three) on the SAME side, and 2 minutes (this will give a lovely cross-hatch to feed the eye.  Flip the steaks and let them cook 6 minutes on the other side.

Subtract 1 minutes from each quarter turn and 2 minutes from the flip (1, 1, 4) for a half inch thick steak.

Obviously, the longer it cooks the more well it will be.

The Meat - I apologize for the poor lighting on it, it was a nice red center with the slightest bit of juices.

To test the meat for done-ness, give it a gentle squeeze with your tongs, the more resistance the more done it is.  (There is reason everyone teased me as a child for liking hockey pucks, well done steaks get stiff!)

Pull off the grill and let it rest for at least 5 minutes, this will time for the juices to soak into the meat, softening it and providing the exquisite texture you get from fine restaurants.

Serve it and enjoy! :)

Let me know if you like cooking yours as much as we do ours!