Archive for the ‘recipes and food’ Category

Guess What?

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Guess what we did for dinner last night?

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Yep. Went to Scalini’s so I could eat some of the famous, labor-inducing eggplant parmesan! I feel kind of silly doing things like this, but when it boils down to it, we had a fun little family outing at worst. And at best, the legend may be true. Plus, when you reach a certain stage of discomfort and deliriously wanting the baby out, you will do anything.

And the food was goooood. It started with one of the best house salads I’ve ever seen in an Italian restaurant.

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It included beets, chickpeas, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, garlic, and a vinegary dressing. As well as some little balls of garlicky, doughy goodness.

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And we can’t forget the super-star of the night. THE eggplant parmesan.

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It doesn’t look like anything special, but it sure tasted phenomenal. Now let’s see how phenomenal it is at starting labor in 48 hours like it claims. All of these babies made it.

300+ babies! I even had to sign a special book. That way if I do have baby B in 48 hours they can send me a gift certificate and a special onesie for him. I’m not counting on it, but it still made for a fun night.

Guess what else? We should think like dudes. I recently read an article claiming that women would benefit health-wise if they thought or acted more like men in certain situations. These are the ideas from the current issue of Shape on what men do from which us women could learn.

  • Men Eat A Real Meal: Women may not eat enough calories in their meals, in an effort to be “good”. Then, they consume extra calories mindlessly in a non-balanced manner. If we ate a real meal, we wouldn’t have the fluctuations in blood sugar or feel the need to overeat.
  • Men Don’t Hold In Emotions: Women will hide feelings until they become too much to deal with in a rational manner. Men get it out right away.
  • Men Drink Beer: Drinking the manly beer over the girly wine or fruity drink is a smarter choice for health and weight management. Something to do with the bubbles making you drink slower and it being more filling.
  • Men Play Team Sports: Even as adults, men more regularly join in on team activities together. Women go their activity alone. The community of a team would provide more enjoyment in the exercise.
  • Men Take Risks: Men will more likely do things like ask for a raise or go on an adventurous trip. Women try to take the safer approach in fear of the possible outcomes. Risks would provide us opportunities and help us embrace change.
  • Men Don’t Mind Their Bodies: 8 out of 10 men are either indifferent or pleased with what they see in the mirror. Women critique themselves way too much and create a negative body image that can affect other areas of our lives. We need to learn to love what’s in the mirror more.
  • Men Don’t Dwell On Things: Men will analytically approach a situation, find the solution, do what they can to resolve it, and move on. Women will emotionally dissect things for an extended amount of time before making any real changes or improving the problem.

Shape presented the ideas above. I guess quite a few of them make sense. Not too sure on the beer over wine thing though. I also know women out there do many of these things too. It still provided an interesting read and something to think about. I certainly can get on board with the notion that, as women, we tend to criticize ourselves way too much and could learn not to focus on the mirror. Personally, I can dwell too much on things in an unproductive way. I also could take more risks to really go for things I want. I certainly do more than I used to, but fear will still hold me back at times.

Question of the Day – What are your thoughts on the “Man List”? Do you agree/disagree with any of the points made?

Posted by on January 7th, 2011 49 Comments

Nice & Cozy with Tortellini Soup

At 1:00 this afternoon, this was the weather in normally mild Georgia.

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I know that is not near as bad as where some of you are, but its still flipping cold to me. I had nothing on my to-do list today and nowhere to be, so I managed to stay nice & cozy.

Makenzie & I hung out in sweats (or comfortable tacky outfits a 2 year old picks out) for the day.

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We danced to Christmas music and snuggled with some books. Right now, she is all about “Rudolph song” and The Christmas Story book.

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I sipped Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride hot tea and ate a lemon sugar cookie with icing from the cookie exchange over the weekend.

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I took a nice nap, then entertained myself with this link a friend posted. Most hilarious pregnancy photos ever. Why have I not heard of this blog before?

I whipped up a bowl of comfort in the form of one of the most delicious soups ever.

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Italian Tortellini Soup (from Taste of Home – shared by my friend, Danielle)

3 Italian turkey sausage links (4 ounces each), casings removed
1 medium onion, chopped
6 garlic cloves, minced 2-3 heaping spoonfuls of pre-minced garlic
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) Reduced-Sodium Chicken Broth
1-3/4 cups water
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 package (9 ounces) refrigerated cheese tortellini (found whole wheat! woo!)
1 package (6 ounces) fresh baby spinach, coarsely chopped
2-1/4 teaspoons minced fresh basil or 3/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Dash Heavy sprinkling crushed red pepper flakes (I like it spicy)
Shredded Parmesan cheese, optional

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Crumble sausage into a Dutch oven; add onion.

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Cook and stir over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the broth, water and tomatoes. Bring to a boil.

Add tortellini; return to a boil. Cook for 7-9 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.

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Reduce heat; add the spinach, basil, pepper and pepper flakes. Cook 2-3 minutes longer or until spinach is wilted. Serve with cheese if desired.

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Make this! You know if I share a recipe it means it is tasty and amazingly easy.

Now, I think a blanket, another cup of tea, and The Biggest Loser Finale with my sister are calling my name for the remainder of the evening. Stay nice & cozy!

  • How do you like to stay nice & cozy?
  • What is your favorite soup?

Posted by on December 14th, 2010 60 Comments

 

 
Catch Up With Recent Posts

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Posted: November 23, 2011 at 7:47 am

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Self-Love Reflection: The Road Not Taken

Posted: November 20, 2011 at 11:47 am

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Healthier Eating For Kids

Posted: November 19, 2011 at 10:56 am

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Announcement

Posted: November 17, 2011 at 3:36 pm

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Where The Change Happens

Posted: November 16, 2011 at 7:54 am

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From Beginning To End

Posted: November 15, 2011 at 11:53 am

Good morning! First off, thanks for the many congrats yesterday. Love you all bunches for the tons of support you have given me in so many things this year. I hope I can return a little bit of that love through this here blog as well. So yesterday I had my first parent-teacher “conference” for […]

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