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| My sis and her hubby back in the day. Love this big guy! |
This Week I'm:
Listening To: Two-thirds of the way through The Girl Who Played With Fire. Honestly, it's a bit slow going; an interesting story bogged down with a lot of unnecessary details and a fair amount of repetition.
And did listen to a couple of Happier podcast episodes while I worked out this week, too. But I'm way behind on my podcast listening - I didn't even know that the new season of Nerdette had started in February. Clearly, I'll have plenty to listen to as I start the new, more vigorous exercise routine aforementioned.
Watching: Baseball because, apparently, Miss H has turned us all into fans.
Making: Mexican stuffed potato skins, Spicy Smoked Sausage Alfredo Bake, grilled burgers, and strawberry shortcake. Trish (Love, Laughter, and a Touch of Insanity) wrote the other day about following recipes. I linked the recipe for the Alfredo bake but must admit to having made some (okay, several) alterations - we only had garlic and onion polish sausage on hand and no mozzarella cheese so I substituted Irish cheese. Also, I was unable to throw it in and actually bake it as the Big Guy had already put broccoli in the oven to roast. It was delicious with the substitutions although I wish I had put in more sausage and baked it. When you cook, do you always stick the recipe?Planning: My reading list for next weekend's Dewey's 24-Hour Readathon. Anyway, I was planning my list until Mini-him noticed that we get free HBO next weekend which also usually means a Game of Thrones marathon. Perhaps my readathon reading will finally be to read A Game of Thrones while I watch?
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| Miss H and Mini-him |
Enjoying: Seeing my kids enjoying each other's company. Miss H and Mini-him hopped in the car last Monday and drove to Kansas City (a seven-hour roundtrip) to go to a concert together. Got home at two a.m. and went to work the next day. I can hardly contemplate going to a concert in town on a work night - I miss being young!
Feeling: Excited. My nephew and his wife let us know that other day that they are expecting their first baby this fall. I can't wait to meet him or her!
Looking forward to: Today is the opening reception for Mini-me's senior thesis art show. He's been working on this for the entire school year and I can't wait to share pictures next week. Which is remarkable for me to be able to say, given what so much of his work looks like!
Question of the week: What are your favorite ways to make food taste delicious while still being healthy?
It must be so nice for your sister to have you nearby. For heart healthy recipes, I recommend books by Dean Ornish. The recipes tend to be work-intense until you get used to them, but they are very tasty, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness they found out about your BIL's issue before it was too late. My SIL is going through some undiagnosed health issues now so I feel anxious. Isn't Tampa, an uncomfortable but, addictive read? Have a good week.
ReplyDeleteI love the expression you used - circling the wagons. That's what true family does. What lovely support you all are for your sister and her husband. I wish him the best of luck. I tend to follow recipes unless I don't have everything on the ingredient list and may substitute or just leave it out. Exercise is a must. As for eating healthy, I end to eat smaller meals, five of them. I try to have more fruit and veggies like via green smoothies and more greens at dinner than the protein and starch.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of the smaller meals - I just haven't ever been able to figure out how to do them! I'm trying to make sure I do take more fruit with my lunches and I'm glad we're heading into garden season when I do tend to eat a lot more fresh vegetables and fruit.
DeleteFirst off, sorry to hear about your brother-in-law. I hope he will be fast on the road to recovery. I've been taking the health issue seriously of late. I'm going on my third week of daily exercising and I started a "diet" last week (not overly depriving, but a healthier approach). It's really time. I'll be 50 in 2.5 years.
ReplyDeleteI'll be interested to hear how your liked Chevalier's new book. I loved Girl with a Pearl Earring and The Lady and the Unicorn.
I'm doing Dewey's too, but it's the weekend after next...the weekend of my Spring into Horror read-a-thon. I'm doing both. Can't wait!
Congrats on the future grand niece or nephew!
I don't go berserk with making healthy suppers, but I do things like using low fat sour cream, cream cheese, etc. in recipes. I do it all the time and it doesn't mess up the recipe or change the flavor at all.
Thanks - he is finally out of the hospital. I've been taking meals over and was surprised to see that, so far, the only thing they've told him he can't have is anything with the word "rib" in it.
DeleteThat's great your BIL's surgery went well and that you are nearby so that you can be there for your family. I think you will enjoy Eligible - such a fun read! As for Tampa, I have to admit to DNFing it. I just could never get through it - way too uncomfortable of a read for me. Hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI'm chunking away on Tampa but I really am about ready to call it quits. Glad to know I'm not the only one who doesn't love it.
DeleteI hope your brother-in-law's surgery went well. I am glad you are close by to be able to help too. Your PSA is so true. If I hadn't pushed and kept asking questions when first told by a doctor she couldn't see anything wrong, things could have gotten a lot worse for me. I'm glad I was persistent about that as often, I admit, I am not. Congratulations to your nephew and his wife! That is wonderful news. Two of my coworkers are expecting, due a week apart. We're all very excited for them.
ReplyDeleteAll this talk about Eligible has me curious about it. I hope you have a great week, Lisa! I register Mouse for kindergarten tomorrow. I'm not ready! At least the paperwork is done.
Thanks! I'm very glad that my sister and her family moved, a couple of years ago, so that they are only a few blocks away. It was right on my way home from work to stop and feed their dogs and quick to run meals over.
DeleteI have been certainly trying to eat healthier for a while now. We had a scare last year and ever since, we have been trying to do better. Hope your BIL recovers soon! How wonderful that he and your sister have family so close by to help.
ReplyDeleteIt is great to be so close to each other - they helped us out a few years ago when we went through a major health problem and we're happy to be able to pay them back.
DeleteA bypass at 51? I am glad they got him in there so fast. How scary for everyone. It is nice to have family close by, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteThat food. You always make me drool. So unfair while I eat this sour orange at my desk. I will forgive you. Do I follow recipes? The only ones are follow are for baked goods. You can't really mess around with those measurements too much without causing a major problem but Gawd no... I don't follow recipes otherwise.
The read-a-thon is this weekend? I have an all day track meet and it's prom!! I am not sure I will get any reading done. I love the idea of it though.
I am going to have to follow recipes as I try a lot of new, hopefully healthier, things. Love using the computer to find a lot of recipes but I do miss getting to scribble my notes into the margins about how I will change things up the next time.
DeleteSo sorry to hear about your brother in law. Hope he is doing well. Sounds like he has a great support team around him.
ReplyDeleteI never stick to the recipes as written. I either don't have what I need or I want to lower calories. So, the substitutions I usually make are lean meats to replace red. Instead of ground beef, I use ground turkey. Chicken sausages instead of pork. Some dairy I will use low-fat but not cheese. If I can, I will use olive oil spray instead of just olive oil in a pan. If I can add greens in I will. Spinach into spaghetti sauce works well. Looks like basil, no one is the wiser. :) Switched to whole wheat pastas, breads and brown rice.
I like infused olive oils and, lots of spices to increase flavor. Trader Joe's Everyday Seasoning is really good. I put italian seasoning in almost everything. I don't add salt due to my high blood pressure, so seasoning with other things helps.
I am forever starting recipes and finding I don't have something. The nice thing about cooking for years is that you do know when you can substitute and what will work. The trick then is always to try to reproduce something that came out great!
DeleteThey always say heart problems and clogged arteries are the silent killer. Thank goodness your BIL was able to get help so quickly!
ReplyDeleteAs for eating healthy, smaller portions. Seriously. You can have everything as long as you keep portions under control and balance out rich meals with lighter ones. Want a cheesy pasta? Have a salad for lunch and/or serve it with a salad or other vegetable to balance the meal. And when you do make something, use the best, freshest ingredients possible. You would be amazed at the difference fresh basil can make on a dish or freshly shredded cheese versus pre-shredded.
We grow basil in the summer and dry that when we have to but it's one herb I haven't figured out how to winter indoors yet. Big, big pot, I'm thinking!
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