Monday's Meal

For the past several years I've made a point to focus on the less is more philosophy during the holidays and beyond. I've also tried to use my love of crafting to spread that belief among my friends and families. This year I've been doing less knitting and more sewing, but all the same I'll still be doing a fair bit of handcrafted gifts this year. One of my favorite gifts to hand out is "mixes in a jar". Love them! I'm going to share one of my favorites that makes the base for a ton of delicious chocolate desserts. This recipe will yield 15 cups of mix, enough for several jars to gifts for the holiday. Over the next few weeks I'll share several recipes that you can use this brownie mix in. It makes it so special to attach a hand written recipe card to the jars and share them with those you care about during the holidays.

Brownie Mix

6 cups all-purpose
4 tsp baking powder
4 tsp salt
8 cup sugar
1 can of unsweetened cocoa powder

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, whisking together until evenly mixed. Store in airtight containers. Be sure to date content. Store in a cool, dry place and use within 12 weeks.

Friday's Fitness Wrapup

What to report? Not much. Holding steady. Still needing to figure out the exercise/life thing. I've been seriously considering dropping my gym membership. I will probably make a decision by the first of the year. Don't think I'm giving up on exercise. It's just that everything I keep reading talks about walking being the perfect inexpensive do anywhere workout and I'm thinking that's just what I should do. Except I like variety. So, I'm going to give myself the time to decide what works best for me. The cool thing about the Y is that you can rejoin without too much fuss or muss. Otherwise I'm doing better about snacking. Still need to find time to drink more water.
I'm a work in progress. I'm still 20 lbs from my goal. But, perhaps I'll make it there in 2011.

Friday's Fitness Wrapup

It's been a few weeks since I posted one. I guess from that you can guess either I haven't been focusing on fitness or I've been overwhelmingly busy. I have to confess it's a bit of both, sort of. I've been focusing more on getting my diet back on track and getting into a good routine with my new schedule. I'm a creature of habit and love my routine, so the last couple months have been huge for me. I'm working on it though. Also I sometime feel with diet and exercise I can only focus on doing one thing really well and for now I've been spending some time on the food thing. I feel like in my daily life I get a bit of moderate exercise just by the sheer fact of my occupation and lifestyle. Of course I want it to be more high intensity, but I'll get there. One thing at a time. So, I've been spending a bit of time refocusing and reconnecting with why I eat, what I eat and when I eat. I've also checked in with Dr. Beck's book (she of the think like a thin person philosophy). I've been making efforts to pack a healthy lunch with healthy snacks. Drink my water and such. It's a process. Once I feel like I've gotten firmly back in the saddle I can shift my focus to intensifying my workouts. For now, I'll count on my pedometer for a reference as to how active I really am. I guess the real point is to stay mindful and focused so that's what I'm doing.

Hello Lady!!!

I fancy myself a knitter, but I rarely knit much beyond socks, dishcloths and scarves. I decided after scoring a gorg shade of green wool yarn on clearance I should make myself something. Now granted it will probably be next year before I finish, but I'm going for it. I've decided to make myself the February Lady Sweater. I love the description from the designer. It's a sweater meant for a grown ass woman, lol. That's me! I've already cast on and started on the collar. I'm really going to have to pay attention and perhaps take notes or something, because I have a bad habit of stopping a project for an extended period and forgetting where I am. I'll share my progress along the way. Wish me luck!

Monday's Meal

You may have read that I've started a new job that is wrecking havoc with all the free time I had previously (yeah, right). Well this week's recipe isn't a recipe at all. It's a recipe source that I just adore and I know that you will too. It's Campbell Kitchen. I mean who doesn't have a can of soup hanging around? Soup can be the basis for a ton of delicous and quick recipes. I can't tell you how many times I've been scratching my head, stumped at what to fix for dinner. Just a click on the net, pop open a can and dinner is served. Check it out...you're going to love it too.

Monday's Meal

When I was young I don't remember stopping at the local donut place very often when we wanted a sweet treat. But, I do remember making delicious donuts at home. It's much easier than you can imagine and a ton more tastier. Give it a try. You can mix your dough in the bread machine or use a mixer. If you use the bread machine like I do just add the ingredients as recommended by your machine manufacturer (usually liquids, then dry ingredients and the yeast last). Let me know how yummy they are!

Divinely Delicious Donuts

2 (.25 ounce) envelopes active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 1/2 cups lukewarm milk
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/3 cup shortening
5 cups all-purpose flour
1 quart vegetable oil for frying

1/3 cup butter
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
4 tablespoons hot water or as needed


Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water, and let stand for 5 minutes, or until foamy.
n a large bowl, mix together the yeast mixture, milk, sugar, salt, eggs, shortening, and 2 cups of the flour. Mix for a few minutes at low speed, or stirring with a wooden spoon. Beat in remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough no longer sticks to the bowl. Knead for about 5 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Place the dough into a greased bowl, and cover. Set in a warm place to rise until double. Dough is ready if you touch it, and the indention remains. Roll dough out onto a floured surface, rolling out to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut with a floured doughnut cutter (or you can use the edge of a glass combined with a shot glass in a pinch). Cover loosely with a cloth and let rise again until doubled in size. Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large dutch oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). While oil is heating, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Remove from heat, and stir in hot water one tablespoon at a time until the icing is thin, but not watery. Set aside. When the oil is ready, gently add doughnuts using a spatula. Turn doughnuts over as they rise to the surface. Fry doughnuts on each side until golden brown. Remove from hot oil, to drain on a wire rack. Dip doughnuts into the glaze while still hot, and set onto wire racks to drain off excess.

Monday's Meal

Sorry I was late. I had a busy day yesterday. But this is a goody and a cinch for a busy mom to through together in a pinch. Although it calls to mind Asian cuisine, this version is pure American although merged with Italian. Don't ask me why it's called Chop Suey!

Turkey Chop Suey

1 box of your favorite small type of pasta )
1 pound ground turkey (or beef if you prefer)
1/2 onion, finely chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
salt and pepper to the taste
1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce
1 can of diced tomatoes
2 celery stalk, minced
1 jar of beef gravy
Parmesan to top

Preheat oven to 350. degrees. Cook the pasta according to package directions. While that’s cooking, add a bit of oil to a large skillet, heat of over medium heat. Add the meat, onion, celery, garlic and spices of your choice, and cook, stirring occasionally, until meat is browned and no longer pink. Drain meat, if necessary, and return to pan. Add sauce, tomatoes, and gravy to meat mixture, mixing well. Drain noodles, add meat mixture, stir well. Transfer to a casserole dish, top with Parmesan cheese. Cook in preheated oven for 30 mins.