Lauries Kitchen

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Chocolate Oreo Dessert

I got this recipe off pinterest, but didn't follow the directions. So I guess it's a Laurie original! Definitely an awesome dessert!

Chocolate Oreo Dessert
1 large box instant pudding, prepared
1 package oreos (I used the store brand)
1/2 c butter , melted
8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
8 ounces cool whip

Crush oreo cookies and spread in the bottom on a 9x13 pan. Save a few for topping. Pour melted butter over oreo layer and mix to make a crust. Mix cream cheese and prepared pudding together. Fold in cool whip. Top with reserved crushed oreos. Refrigerate until ready to serve!

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Crash Sweet potatoes

Now these take a while to put together, but it is sooo worht the effort! This would be great to make on the weekends to take in a lunch! In fact, if I had more fresh sweet potatoes, I would be making them to take this week!

You put 2 quarts of salted water on to boil. Peel 2 sweet potatoes and cut into about 1 inch widths. Drop in the hot water. Start the timer for12 mins. after 12 mins drain and let potatoes cool about 15 minutes.

Get out a cookie sheet and cover with foil. Then spray with pam. Place each piece of cut sweet potatoe on the sheet -leaving room around.. Get out a glass or bowl and mash (hence the name 'crash') the sweet potato-it may go everywhere, just put it all back in a circular shape. Spray with low calorie butter spray. In another bowl mix 1 1/2 T brown sugar, some cumin, onion powder, chili powder, paprika, and garlic powder. Mix well then put on top of each sweet potatoe that has 'crashed'. Bake sweet potatoes another 15-20 minutes or until tender.

This was pretty low calorie and was really good. They were devoured around here with our ham sandwiches and kale chips.

WOW~~ It's Saturday! Ramblings that go on and on and on

Yeah! We made it! It's always a tough week in this house when there's no school on a Monday! Seems like the week just drags on out and out and out! But we made it---all in one piece (barely) but we made it!

For those who have asked and are owndeirwo, my sinuses continue to be a bother. I have an appointment Tuesday in Dallas with my specialist. They are better, but I know from experience that it has to be completely cleared up or it will just keep reinfecting and growing. I 'm betting I have that lovely fungus again, but we'll see. At least the fungus is treatable!

Today is going to be pretty relaxing. JoGail has 2 basketball games later this afternoon, but other than that we're good to stay home and just chill. Trying some new recipes and making some kale chips later on! One I am trying is a lemon chicken! I hope it turns out great, I love that stuff! Thanks to pinterest, I have a whole new batch of recipes to try~~!!

Yesterday at  work we had a meeting so of course we all brought food. Traci brought these things called taco crescents (as soon as I get he recipe I'll share). It was basically taco meat, refried beans and cheese in a crescent roll. They were good! Gina made 'topless brownies'--brownies and then she had sundae toppings. I had a skinny piece of brownie and then put some sugar free carmel sauce on top. It was AWESOME! I need to try that around here!

Coy has downloaded an app that tracks his calorie input, etc. He think he needs to lose some weight.....So after he's done it about a week he's all over me to do try it. So today is the first day! One thing I can say about it is that I am more conscious about what I am eating. We'll see how long I can keep it up! A new favorite in our family right now is pistachio nuts. Rachel (I call her Mother Earth) from work gave me a big bag for a birthday present and we have all enjoyed them! Anyway, Coy's basic premise id thay if you eat fewer calories than you will lose weight. I know from experience that it doesn't work that way with me, in particular, but we'll see. It is always interesting to log what's being eaten and look at patterns, etc. IT just occurred to me that counting calories is sort of like weight watchers,  you just count calories instead of points. I am also going to try and up my water drinking. Personally, I think I consume too much sodium. But that' s just a guess on my part. I need to watch that. I count carbs in my head pretty much all day long. I try to get about 40-45 per meal to help keep my blood sugar in check. Yesterday was a wild blood sugar day. For some reason, mine was low several times. That's kind of unusual for me. During the morning was I was eating all the carbs I could get my hands on....it was still wild last night when I went to bed. I know I probably should, but I don't keep high carb snacks around for when it goes low. Typically mine goes haywire as in too much blood sugar, so this was new. My morning readings have been a little lower than usual, but I still want them lower. I know all my sinus meds play into the blood sugar picture, so I'm not getting too worried. Usually the meds make it go too high. It's all a balancing act and sometimes I can do it, but sometimes I can't! Getting it low after it's high can be very hard. Usually I try walking, but that doesn't always help. I am anxious for winter to really be over. I want to get back into the couch to 5k program. I still want to fly out to Amarillo and do the 5k out there with my sister. We'll see.....

Told you'll I was rambling on and on this morning!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Star Awards

Well, let me catch you up!  I have a major sinus infection-going on about a week and a half. Because of my health history, these things always make me nervous. Now I love my doctor, but when I went in with headaches and I got a diagnosis of strep, I knew it was going to be trouble. My currect doctor (of about 5 years) doesn't know or remember me when I had all my sinus problems. He doesn't remember the hospital stays and PIC line for sinus infections. It's been about 6 years since I have had them, so they are even dissolving away from my memory! (Thank you, Lord)  But anyways, I have been back on prednisone, budesinide and 2 antibiotics. To say I am jittery and even mor random than usual would be a major understatement. As in the past I know I get more done correctly in teh morning thatn at night, so I try to front load my days ight now. Which brings me to another point. We are missing Grace's game tonight. Coy has board meeting and I just don't feel right driving the backroads to Buffalo in the dark. Last year I tried it and it took us forever because I was going slow , missed a road, had to turn around and go back...I think we beat the school bus back by maybe 5 minutes. But anyways, I get nervous missing. I don't think she minds at all. She told us when we were talking about it that she played her best volleyball game ever when we weren't there, so we'll see. I don't doubt she'll be loved and taken care of. Between her coach, his mom, and Mak and Carley's mom someone will take care of her. She kind of breaks my heart that I'm not 100% to try and go. Anyways, I'll  be nervous all day about that. Plus they need to win to stay in the running for 1st place. And I guess if she thinks she plays better without us there once then she had better. She plays really well most of the time anyways. She's getting consistent and really is a joy to watch. JoGail is a hoot to watch. She is becoming a beast for rebounds. And she aint' letting letting go of the ball, either. It's kind of surprising if you know her. But she knows what to do and she does it.  I am just amazed at how grown up these two are getting. But on to the Star Awards....

Being on prednisone, I often have weird dreams and this morning was no exception. I woke up at 3:23 and haven't been back to sleep yet. Every year of office (I work in Mabank) has a theme for the school year. One year 5-6 years ago, our theme was 'SuperStars'. This year, its about getting up when you are knocked down and carrying on.....kind of like this. I guess you would call it resilience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEBLt6Kd9EY


So anyways, I was dreaming that I was chosen y Eustace ISD to give out STAR AWARDS to people that have impacted my life-not Coy's, not the girls. Mrs. McKee (from Mabank ) had charged me with doing this. So, I started going through the list-
JW-for always putting up with Coy no matter what the mood
Mr. Sowers-for always being there for Coy
Coach Brown-for connecting with Grace
Mrs. Abbott-for ALWAYS feeding the girls and Coy
Coach Herman-for challenging the athletes and making the fact that we go to so many sporting events fun
All of the girls' teachers......I think I dreamt of everyone they have had here in Eustace. If my girls make the top ten banquet as seniors they are going to have a HARD time deciding which teacher to honor....
I though of Mrs. Beasley, but in this dream she has actually retired from EISD with 50 years of service.
Then I remembered it was about who had impacted MY life. And I came up with two people.

Now, these two people are behind the scenes people. One keeps the district straight financially and the other keeps us in line with TEA. These two ladies have helped raise my girls and have helped watch over the love of my life. They have watched them grow. JoGail could barely walk when we moved here and now she's twelve. These two are my lifesavers when Coy is at a conference or something and I have to get from Mabank to Eustace to pick the girls up. And yes, there have been a couple of times that I forgot to do that and I think it was because I knew they were taken care of! It's not uncommon for Coy to be in a meeting and JoGail to to go to the admin building and Coy find her drinking a soda and a handful of chocolate candy when he comes out. They have been known in the past to sneak candy to the girls, as well. These ladies most definately put up with Coy on a daily basis.   They f cook for him. listen to him and accept him. They have taught my JoGail to eat tomatoes for breakfast and pickled okra on whatever they have at that time.  I'm giving my two Star Awards to Karen Thompson and Carol Warren. They have withstood many tests and are greatly appreciated!

Then (and I kid you not) in my dream Carol had to put on her shoes to come forward to get the award because she was running around in he socks!

Thank you, Karen and Carol for always helping to take care of my family.


So there you have my random ramblings and my dream........

Thursday, January 12, 2012

TacoChili

Taco Chili-Holcombe Style!




We got a package mix of this for Christmas from someone who isn’t supposed to get us a gift (ahem, Karen Thompson), and it was great. SO I googled it this was my first attempt at it and it wasn’t too bad! I decided to change it up a bit with the beef broth and of course, here in Texas, we don’t have beans in our chili! 

So here’s my version………

1 pound hamburger, ground and kind of minced….I have a special tool that chops it up really good!

2 cans Rotel tomato sauce (this is a new favorite find of mine)

1 can chili fixin’s Rotel

1 can diced tomatoes

1 32oz. container beef broth

1 teaspoon chili powder

¼ teaspoon cumin

1 package taco seasoning

1 packet ranch seasoning mix



Mix together and simmer as long as you can, stirring when you walk by.



You can add water, ketchup, etc but wait until close to time to serve because it will absorb some of the liquids in it.



I serve this with a pan of cornbread and some fritos because Grace likes to make frito pie.

Sunday, January 08, 2012

What a week! Seems we were all on track to getting back into a routine and wham, here comes the strep throat again. I think it affects me more everytime I have it. I am still not sure I am over it, but I am getting better! Of course, me being almost a year older wouldn't have anything to do with me taking longer to get over it!

Both girls played extrememly well in their ball games. JoGail managed to accumulate 4 fouls in about 5 minutes of playing time. But, hey, she was aggressive! My coach had me stay back on the offensive end when he thought he realized what was going on. Sure enough the next two fouls were on me and I was all alone at the offensive end.

We have two birthdays this week, then we are finished with that for a while! It's hard for me to believe my baby girl will be 12. She was just so tiny when she was born.....but more on that next time I post.

I am trying a new recipe for lunch. I am going to go ahead and post it, though. I also made some peanut butter cornflake candy to take to Sunday School this morning. I can remember Nanny Hyatt and the cafeteria ladies making that in the cafeteria when we lived in Evant. They would make HUGE batches of it and they always made sure I got some! I'm sure that if they made it now it would be illegal with all the sugar in it!

Cornflake Candy

6 cups cornflakes
1 cup sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter

Cook sugar and corn syrup over medium heat stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved. Add peanut butter and continue cooking till it is well combined to the mix. Remove from heat and add cornflakes, stirring rapidly to coat the cereal with the penaut butter syrup. You can either drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper to cool or press the mixture into a pan (I used a 9x13 pan) then cut into squares once cool.


Hints:
Fresh cornflakes work best.
Spray measuting cups and bowls and pans with pam for easier cleanup and to get the syrup and peanut butter to slide right out of the measuring cups.

Italian Chicken --We are trying this for lunch today...It sounds delicious!


2 cans cream of chicken soup
8 ounces cream cheese
4 chicken breasts
1 package zesty Italian seasoning


Put all in crockpot and cook on high for 4 hours. Then serve over cooked noodles.

~Laurie