To Die For Cardamom Cinnamon Rolls

I was blessed with my first taste of cardamom cinnamon rolls on National Swedish Cinnamon Roll Day (a real day! Excerpt from Professor wikipedia "In Sweden, the country of its presumed origin, the cinnamon roll takes the name of kanelbulle (literally: "cinnamon bun") and October 4th has more recently started to be promoted as "kanelbullens dag" (Cinnamon Roll Day).") when I was home last. My friend's neighbor left them on her doorstep. AMAZING! Since, I have wanted to try them. Theirs were not as gooey as these but being the doughy, gluten I am, I went for a gooey recipe.

Here it is. Try it! Cinnamon Cardamom Rolls. It calls for pearl sugar, which I had never heard of until this recipe. So of course, Dr. Google to the rescue! Here is a how to for pearl sugar.

Oh and since we are not regular lemon consumers, I've decided I am tired of wasting a whole lemon to just use its zest, so I have dried lemon peel on hand (so cheap from the bulk store). About 1 tbs dried lemon peel = zest of 1 lemon.

Trying an Oldie but Goodie...

In an attempt to have healthy snacks on hand, I have come to realize that I will have to cook occasionally.  Though, I dislike cooking, over the years, I have come to find easy to make recipes that don't take too much effort or time.  This morning, while I am home alone with my son, who is playing with toys with Cat in the Hat Knows Alot About That and Dinosaur Train on in the background, I am going to make "Vegetable Quiche Cups to Go" which is a recipe I got from the South Beach Diet book.

Recipe ingredients and instructions are:

1 package (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach
3/4 cup liquid egg substitute (or 6 eggs)
3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat cheese
1/4 cup diced green bell peppers
1/4 cup diced onions
3 drops hot-pepper sauce (optional)

Microwave the spinach for 2 1/2 minutes on high.  Drain the excess liquid.
Line a 12-cup muffin pan with foil baking cups.  Spray the cups with cooking spray.
Combine the egg substitute (eggs), cheese, peppers, onions, and spinach in a bowl.  Mix well.
Divide evenly among the muffin cups.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean

Quiche cups can be frozen and reheated in the microwave.  Any combination of appropriate vegetables and reduced-fat cheese may be used

Serves 6

Nutrition at a Glance (Per serving):  77 calories, 9 g protein, 3 g Carbs, 3 g Fat, 2 g saturated fats, 160 mg sodium, 10 mg cholesterol, 2 g fiber

So while my kid is hopefully occupying himself, I will be making this for healthy snacks to eat for a few days.  Here's a picture of the completed product.

Once Preston goes down for his nap, I will be cleaning the house from top to bottom because my in-laws will be coming to stay with us for a while starting tomorrow, Sunday.

It's just Preston and I for most of the day.  I'm hoping it is not too windy out today so we can go for a nice walk around town.  The roads might still be slushy, but we'll brave them anyway.  And I'll remember to bring my small camera this time so I can take a picture of something I find interesting or inspirational.  The whole point in buying the heavy duty stroller was because we knew the roads are crappy here.  Better put it to good use.

This is what most of the street corners look like throughout Fairfield

My picture of something interesting and inspirational.  I was inspired to get creative while taking my kid for a walk, since most of the roads are like the picture above.

20 minutes of Walking Outside Inspired by VB

I have been inspired by Virginia in her attempts to walk outside everyday for 20 minutes and take at least one photo of something she sees that inspires her.  There was one day this week, Tuesday, that was nice enough to get out the stroller and go for a walk with my husband and son.  We walked down to the post office to get the mail and then we got some drinks at the Fairfield "mini-mall".  It's actually one of my favorite places to stop by in Fairfield.  It has a coffee shop, a boutique, the state liquor store in back, a tanning bed area and you can get mani/pedis there.  The people who own it are wonderful women, who brighten up what usually is a boring redundant day.

Of course, I forgot to bring my small camera along.  I will not forget the next time I go out though.  Along the way, I saw a couple of things that would have made for a neat photo.  I'll get it next time.  Not much changes around here, so it will be there the next time I get outside for a walk.

Most days I walk on our small treadmill we purchased for $50.  It is not fancy.  I can't incline or decline as some machines do.  I just set the pace and walk for 40 minutes, which is the time it takes to get through 1 General Hospital with fast-forwarding through commercials.  I dvr the episodes.  I do this either in the morning when Jason takes Preston over to the church to have a bigger play area, or in the afternoon when Preston is napping.  I try to get my walking in at least 5 days a week.  Sometimes it is less, sometimes more.  I find that it not only helps me feel better physically, but emotionally and mentally as well.  I get a lot of thought processing done when I'm walking, because it is constant and monotonous with something to look at so I don't die of boredom.  Kind of like meditation but with noise and visual from the tv and constant movement for 40 minutes.  It helps me in mind, body and soul.

The main reason I don't bundle up and go outside for walks, is because the roads here are awful.  There is no snow removal service, so the snow on the crappy roads is around until it melts.  Snow typically melts away within a few days here, unless the temperatures stay cold.  This winter we've had cold temps followed by chinook winds, which gust up to 60+ mph, but bring warmer temps with it.  On Tuesday it was in the high 40s and it might have even gotten into the low 50s.  It still cools down quite a bit at night, but during the day when the sun shows itself, it can be quite toasty outside.  So I walk outside when it is nicer out with wind that won't blow me down the street.  Basically, like it was on Tuesday.  I don't get out much.

So, the whole point of this post is to follow in Virginia's footsteps.  When I can get outside, bring my small camera and take one or maybe two photos of something along the walk that catch my eye and post them here on this blog.  In the meantime, I'm going to get walking on the treadmill before the guys get back.

Oops! What to do with 10lbs of Beets?!

Well against my better judgement while in pursuit of ingredients for a recipe, my husband and I bought a 10 lb bag of beets a month ago (they didn't have single beets or small bunches available...don't get me started on attempting to grocery shop here...one of the banes of my existence). I only needed two...and being the primary beet consumer (he is hit and miss if he will eat them...says they taste like earth) I have been scrambling to come up with recipes. He made me beet chips in the oven a couple weeks ago. Amazing! Will try some of those today I think. I have determined the beet clan is on it's last legs and has reached emergency status. Use it or lose it!

Disclaimer: I tend to use very ripe produce. It doesn't bother me and I hate wasting. I had a wonderful stint working with a produce salvage non-profit that would get edible ripe produce from the distribution markets - that they could no longer sell to grocers and were going to trash anyway - and would then bring it to poor neighborhoods and sell huge bags for $1. It is SHOCKING the amount of edible, fresh food that is throw out in the USA daily!

P.S. I noticed they were sprouting about a week ago and took the two prettiest growths and threw them in pots per this train of thought. 

And now, on to what the *f* I am going to do with the rest of this pile? Dr. Google to the rescue. Recipes I hope to try today include: Beet Sorbet (but I am going to follow instructions for another sorbet that doesn't require an ice cream maker that I don't own)

Beet sorbet. Surprisingly sweet. I don't love or hate it. But will eat it. 

From there I plan to try this pink borscht soup and freeze it as we already have soup on hand this week. (Made amazing curried carrot, apple, ginger soup yesterday. I add ginger to this recipe; a favorite around this joint).

The first step of the recipe. I am going to let it cool and then freeze it. When I thaw it I will finish the recipe but plan to substitute yogurt for the sour cream (we often substitute yogurt...we just love it).

And if I still have beets to "deal" with I think I will do another round of the chips. If stuff comes out pretty I will post photos (of course it will be pretty, beets are one of the prettiest natural found colors out there!).

The beet chips! Yum. Some are darker than others. Some crispier than others. Similar result as the last time. But still very tasty.

My 20 Minute Walk..."Chronicle"

Still not on a daily routine with 20 minute walks. Missed most days this week. I guess I need to ease into this. Drove to a beach again today, did a little walk, tried jumping over a stream and ended up with one foot in it and ended up catching some cool icicles.

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Having a hard time getting out every day. I missed walking again yesterday. My husband, despite having done manual labor all day, went for a walk with me this evening in the fresh snow. I would like to find some tools to keep motivating myself. Any tips? Any tricks you use?

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Missed a day again (working on getting my life into more of a routine...hate routine but right now am finding I might need it). Walked to the post office yesterday (no photo sorry...balancing package, purse and myself on ice was plenty...adding a camera to the mix...not happening).
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After nearly a week of not walking and a bout of blues and sleeping all day, I had a craving to beach comb. So I finally got a walk in, found 50 or so mermaid purses (the casing that shark eggs are housed in...these were all hatched...lots of sharks in those waters *gulp) and did my biannual barefeet in North Atlantic in the middle of winter stunt.

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Update: I seem to have lost the momentum. Have missed most days this week. Urgh. This is what happens to most of my ambitious excercise plans. Any tips for getting back into it?
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I missed a day. And then made it up by walking 40 minutes yesterday and a long walk today. These walks were much more interesting as they took place not in my ugly neighborhood. We got hockey tickets from my husband's boss for x-mas so we had to park 20 minutes away from the game. (We were in the front row and the home team beat the league ranked #1 team. A fun game to watch up close!)

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And we drove to do some errands today and decided to take the car up the big hill overlooking the city and caught both some amazing fog layers and a bright pink winter sunset.

Going forward I will be adding my walk write up to this post I think. If it gets intolerably long I will start a new one.
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My husband is helping me motivate for walks and encouraging us going beyond the neighborhood. Today we drove to a nearby farmstand (on the hunt for whole chickens that cost less than $15 for a small bird...the grocery store caused a meltdown today (normal) they did not have chickens), on the way home we stopped by a nice park, walked to the playground, played with a weird musical instrument and enjoyed the teeter totters.

Veggies & Herbs You Can Regrow from Discarded Bits

This is really interesting. I am currently *dealing* with a 10 lb bag of beets I can't keep up with that has started to grow neon green leaves with magenta veins. I put a couple in pots and have been watering them to see what happens. This article hit my facebook feed this morning during my 30 min allotted facebook binge on a variety of edibles you can regrow from the scraps.

Today's walk happened after dinner. Used it to do some errands. Walked to my favorite place, the Bulk Barn; best place for frugal gourmands. They have bulk spices, hard to find flour like chickpea flour and amaranth, and bulk basics like honey & sugar. Full moon tonight.

I think I will make a single post and keep updating it with my daily walk picture as otherwise I will be drowning this blog in silly walk pictures.

Double Moon

You Know, That Dirty Gray You Only Find in Winter

Day 2 of my walking challenge. 20 minutes in an ugly neighborhood surrounded by busy streets is hard to do. Circled my cul-de-sac just to fill the 20 minutes after having gone right out the door then back up a hill, then up another. We have reached the point in winter in which everything is dirty gray. You know, that dirty gray you only find in winter. I do, however, like the color combo between the fluorescent green and the shades of gray. 

Fluorescent Green Walkers.

My 20 Minute Walk & Photography Challenge

Fact: I am fat for myself. I could gain to trim my waistline a bit. It bothers me. It hangs over my pants (the handful of pairs that still fit) and I am out of breath and aching and blue much of the time.

Fact: I need to exercise. I eat relatively healthy food, my downfall is baked goods and candy. I am working on cutting out the candy and have nearly succeeded. The baked goods are not going as well but I am working on modifying my recipes to include as many whole and ancient grains as possible. Made my usual chocolate chip cookie recipe but substituted 1/2 wheat flour. Tasted the same. Success!

Solution? I think I have a solution I hope to stick with. A 20 minute daily walk. I am thinking an afternoon walk, during the 3:00 pm hour or so when I hit my lull.

Problem: I consistently quit exercise "routines" before I even establish them. My neighborhood is boring and ugly, built in the 1970's next to a shopping mall (you've seen it, there's one near your mall). I don't want to drive anywhere as it is then a waste of time and gas and an easy excuse to lose the motivation. Also, I am fond of the mantra "start where you are" and wish to take this literally.

As I mentioned in my last post, I polled my facebook friends and was offered a realistic solution: "Have a goal to take one interesting photo during your walk - since your neighborhood is not inspiring in the macro, look for micro things to make a good photo as you walk: an oddly shaped branch, closeup of peeling paint or a brick wall, a weird chimney, whatever."

This is something I can do and would enjoy doing. It adds a creative and artistic element to my exercise and may even inspire me to create something new. A jewelry project inspiration?

Why am I stuck on 20 minutes? Well during one of my 30 minute scheduled, daily facebook binges, I found this article about what 20 minutes of walking can do for your brain. That's enough motivation for me.

The challenge: 20 minutes of walking anywhere, everyday. Must produce one photo of something interesting. Post the photo here because, well, I can. And it will keep me accountable. You are invited and encouraged to participate.

Today's walk: I went straight out my front door. Climbed a small hill. Here is my picture:

Confined Space; you have been warned. 

A Move and Cabin Fever

I've, luckily for my sanity's sake, had the fortune to move into the largest urban area on this island. Population 106,172. I am still coping with staying at home and not having work outside the home or regular income. And this city has been dumped on with so much snow this winter they are taking it out in dump trucks daily just to sort of have some poor control over the roadways. To top this off we have had rolling power outages on the coldest days of winter so far. Awesome! I thought I was living in a first world nation...

Needless to say, I have wanted to punch holes in the wall, have put on some undesired weight and am generally irritable and stir crazy. I am trying to cope by building routine into my life. I have always been resistant to routine; a free spirit, routine is for normal people. But am finding that designing some routine is helping not feel like the whole day has been wasted on facebook.

My new routine is still under development. I have been at it a little over a week now and I like this aspect of it. I drive my husband to work every morning. Not being a morning person, waking is always painful. I start the day in a deliriously, miserable state. My eyes hurt, my body hurts, my brain often hurts. I resent being a chauffeur. Once I get back from the 30-40 minute round trip, I make a cup of tea, set a timer for 30 minutes and allow myself uninterrupted access to facebook and whatever else I "need" to look at on the computer. I try to find some interesting articles to read later from what my worldly friends share.

So far I found a link to 24 invaluable things to learn for free online of which I have started the French lessons. Having majored in Spanish, I will tell you this free software is well designed, however I can't get the microphone part where I speak to work...so I am skipping that for now. There is also an interesting link to the art of negotiation I would like to take some time with as well as a link to learning about investing.

On the topic of money, one of my biggest sources of anxiety, I have taken major steps to conquer this anxiety and control the little money we have in our life at this time. We are working with the Dave Ramsey model of spending down to zero - allocating every dollar to a line item in a budget. During some of the days we had rolling power outages, my husband and I marathoned our way through his book The Total Money Makeover (tip you can find this used for pretty cheap at used bookstores and on amazon) and the accompanying budget workbook. I feel like we are better off than we realized and we are on the right step towards progress. We are already on Baby Step 2 and well into it as I have been working on my debt snowball for 4 years now. I have paid off $15,000 in credit card debt (and now owe $0!), paid off a car loan, paid off 2/3's of new car loan in less than a year and have brought my student loan down to $10,000. My outstanding debt is about $16,000 and my husband and I expect to have this gone in two years on one lower middle class income! Woot!!!

Disclaimer: Ramsey is an Evangelical Christian. For those sensitive to too much biblical reference (like myself) I will tell you it is 95% good (*read easy to understand) financial advice and a very tolerable 5% biblical reference. This method and book was recommended to me by my friend Derrin, who is successfully living the life I hope to live (thank you a million times! and I do thank her often for this advice). It holds true to his radio show too, I have been streaming his daily podcasts online. I am finding my brain is more engaged and as they say knowledge is power, I am learning more about money which I think is aiding in suppressing my anxiety.

I am now trying to motivate myself to add a 20 minute daily walk to my new routine. I am putting a lot of time into my jewelry business, a fantastic distraction to the fact that we are in month two of the never ending winter season. But I need some air and some movement. I was too late to the game to join a hockey league (as far as I can tell) and am truly awful at exercising alone. I have yoga tapes and have used them once all winter. So...as I don't have much social interaction (still...grrr), I polled facebook for tips on motivating myself to take a 20 minute walk in my boring, 1970's construction, shopping mall neighborhood (P.S....walking around the mall no longer an option as they got damaged by their sprinkler system during the rolling outages...*insert expletive here).

So...long winded today it seems...an excellent piece of advice received is as follows "Have a goal to take one interesting photo during your walk - since your neighborhood is not inspiring in the macro, look for micro things to make a good photo as you walk: an oddly shaped branch, closeup of peeling paint or a brick wall, a weird chimney, whatever." Brilliant! I enjoy taking photos. I like being inspired by everything and this may even inspire some jewelry projects. Multiple birds with one stone...*semi horn blow*. I am going to strap on my boots and stuff myself into my coat, mittens and hat and go for a short stroll...with a camera.

Surviving Winter in a Small Town

So this winter has been off the charts crazy here in small town Montana.  One week we are in the single digits and below zero, the next week we have 40 degree temps with 60+ mph winds.  That's what we are facing here today in Fairfield, MT.  The air temperature is warm, but we can't go outside and enjoy it or we'll get blown away in the wind.

This winter has been especially hard because I have a now 17 month old to try and keep entertained daily.  I often find myself praying that he takes a long afternoon nap, so I can brainstorm ideas of how to keep him entertained in the evenings when my husband is busy at church with meetings, Confirmation or Bible study.  I've figured it out so far and way too much tv and netflix streaming is involved, but it's worked.  I started reading Preston the first Harry Potter book, mostly for my own entertainment, but he's actually starting to pay attention when I'm reading too which is fun to see.

As far as outside the home activities:  Preston goes over to the office with day most days in the morning so he has a larger space to play and run around.  I continue to take him to MOPS the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, except if the weather is really really bad.  I belong to a book club which meets monthly that I love and participate in an evening Bible study which I also love.  The rest of the month, I find things to do as I long for spring and warmer weather to come.

For my own entertainment during this craptastical winter, I am reading a lot, brainstorming ideas for my creative space that I'm making for myself down in the basement, once the new carpet is put in, watching movies, and working on getting physically and emotionally healthier.  I've taken up crocheting again while Preston is napping and I marathon episodes of Ugly Betty on netflix.  Yup, I'm surviving, but I'll tell you this:  I am so looking forward to the warmer part of spring, a nice warm summer and a lovely autumn.  F*&% this winter!  We'll all make it through, just like every year and be grateful for warmer weather when it comes.