All Things Hold Together

I finally have a few minutes to post this. It has been hectic around here lately for some reason.

Let me get right to it. This past week I did not gain or lose. I am okay with that for two reasons. One, hello, I said I did not gain! And two, my husband said I feel different. I thought so too, but now I have third party confirmation. No, wait. I guess that would be second party confirmation. Whatever. Anyway, good things are happening, it just didn’t show up on the scale. I’m okay with that.

I do have a couple of things I want to focus on - goals, if you will - for the week.

First, my menu plan next Monday is going to be all Weight Watchers recipes. I need to completely break away from my old dinner menus and focus on the plan. Fortunately, my husband loves to eat healthy and enjoys it when I cook WW recipes.

The second is exercise. I know. We all hate it. If we didn’t, we would not be fat.

In my case though, I have the added problem of a bad knee, so even when I do want to exercise, I have to take it s-l-o-w. More like, s—l—o—w. And it drives me c—r—a—z—y!

But I am resolving here and now to start that process with more commitment. My goal is to work up to walking for one hour per day and doing strength training twice per week. (Eventually, which is a long way off, probably, I want to do a 1.5 hour walk and 3 days of strength training, but let’s not get too crazy here.)

I am fortunate in that I can take a walk any time I please because I am home with the kids all day. However, walking with a curious 4-year-old is not exactly the kind of exercise I am looking for.

In order to keep my knee healthy (and not be unable to walk the following day) I am going to start small, maybe a 15 minute walk in the morning before my husband goes to work. If it feels okay for the rest of the day, I’ll do another one that evening.

I want so badly to just jump right in, but I know I will regret it. A few months ago, I bought this really cheesy George Foreman workout DVD on clearance and the kids and I started doing it every day. My knee was killing me, but I pushed through and kept at it. Big mistake! It only got worse. Then I ended up quitting completely.

The exercise component is key for me, and the hardest. My eating habits are not that bad. (I’m not just saying that.) And the small changes that I do need to make, I can live with. But exercise I just hate. Add knee pain and forget it!

Okay, so here is my recipe. Actually, there are two.

First, the don’t-eat-this-ever recipe. Whole-wheat macaroni and cheese. When I was doing core, I made this. It was so disgusting, we could not even finish eating it. The worst part: if you are not on core, it is 6 points! (My personal rule is to not waste points on food that tastes like dirty socks.)

Second, the good macaroni and cheese recipe. This is from the Weight Watchers website, too, but I can’t find a link. (I have a printed copy.) I am pretty sure this is the one I made that we both liked.

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

12 oz uncooked elbow macaroni
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
12 oz fat-free evaporated milk
8 oz low-fat cheddar or colby cheese, shredded
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
2 Tbsp dried bread crumbs
2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350.

Cook pasta according to directions. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. While pasta is still hot, stir in sour cream; set aside.

Heat milk in a small sauce pan over medium heat until tiny bubbles appear just around the edges (known as scalding). Reduce heat to low, add cheese and simmer until cheese melts, stirring constantly with wire whisk, about 2 minutes; remove from heat and stir in mustard, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.

Add cheese mixture to the pasta; mix well. Transfer to a 4-quart casserole dish.

Combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese; sprinkle over pasta.

Bake until top is golden, about 30 minutes. Yields 1 cup per serving.

Servings: 8
Points: 5

I almost forgot to post my menu plan today, which would have been a shame, since I actually sat down and made one yesterday.

Let’s get down to it. I am feeling a bit chatty today, so the menu is in bold and my commentary/how-to’s follow each day. That way, you can read as much or as little as you want.

Monday: Chicken Pot Pie

I am using chicken left over from dinner last night. I love to cook extra chicken, so I can make one of these hearty favorites of mine. And today is even a rainy day - perfect for a belly-warming meal.

I do not use a recipe; I just make the pie using leftover cut-up chicken, veggies, and gravy, mixed together in a pie plate and topped with crust or biscuits. Bake until golden and bubbly.

Tuesday: Baked Ziti with Turkey Sausage and Spinach

Again, no recipe. Just boil the ziti, as directed and brown the sausage in a pan, until cooked. Then, mix them together with bottled sauce and thawed frozen spinach, in a casserole dish sprayed with cooking spray. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and bake at 350, until the cheese is melted and begins to brown slightly. Serve with salad and bread, if desired.

Wednesday: Leftovers night.

I am guessing there will be leftovers from Monday and Tuesday, and I do not want them to go to waste.

Thursday: Turkey-Stuffed Cabbage Leaves

That is a Weight Watchers recipe (5 points).

Friday: Chicken stir-fry

Another no-recipe meal. I cut up skinless, boneless chicken breast into 1-inch pieces and brown, add onion, garlic, sliced carrots and cook for a couple of minutes. Add thawed frozen peas and canned (drained) water chestnuts. I am also going to throw in some leftover cabbage, but I am not sure when. Probably after the carrots, but before the pre-cooked ingredients.

Then, I pour in a cup or two of chicken broth (enough to make a good amount of sauce), some soy sauce, to taste, and some ground ginger. And any other spices I so desire at the time. Once the broth comes to a boil, I add some corn starch dissolved in cold water to the pan. Stir until slightly thickened. Serve over rice.

To me, stir-fry is an adventure. It never comes out the same twice. Just wing it and have fun with it.

Saturday: Chicken Enchiladas

I made these last weekend and froze half. Now I can just pop them into the oven and have an instant dinner!

Enchiladas are super easy. Just warm corn tortillas (according to directions) and fill with desired filling, pre-cooked if necessary, such as meat. (I used chicken and pepper jack cheese.) Roll up and place seam-side down into a baking pan sprayed with cooking spray. Top with homemade or bottled enchilada sauce, sprinkle with cheese, and bake at 400, until sauce is bubbly and edges are slightly brown.

Some recipes call for spreading some sauce in the pan first, but the way I do it, the bottoms get crispy, rather than soggy.

For more Menu Plan Monday, head on over to Organizing Junkie.

Thank you to all who entered the giveaway for The Secret to True Happiness, by Joyce Meyer. I wish I could have given you each a copy.

Our winner was Nikki.  Congratulations!

You can order The Secret to True Happiness: Enjoy Today, Embrace Tomorrow at Amazon.com or Christian Book Distributors.

Little E is doing much better. He has only needed his inhaler once each of the past two days. Both times were after some intense playing outside. His cold is still hanging on, so there is hope that once it is gone, the asthma symptoms will be too.

Well, my second week of Weight Watchers did not go as well as the first. I actually gained a pound and a half last week. Ugh!

I am not going to let it get me down, though. I am not going to get discouraged and quit. It was a setback, but I am still down 2 1/2 pounds from two weeks ago when I started, so I need to just press on.

This week’s recipe is a sweet treat that goes great with tea (or coffee). I put this in the slow cooker last Sunday before church and returned home to a delicious tea-time snack.

Slow Cooker Blueberry Coffee Cake

* 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
* 1/3 cup sugar
* 1/2 tsp baking soda
* 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
* 1/4 tsp table salt
* 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
* 1 large egg(s), beaten
* 1/2 cup plain fat-free yogurt
* 2 Tbsp canola oil
* 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
* 1 cup blueberries
* 2 sprays cooking spray
* 1 Tbsp powdered sugar

Combine both flours, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl. Combine egg, yogurt, oil and vanilla extract in a small bowl; stir well. Beat egg mixture into flour mixture with a wooden spoon until smooth; stir in blueberries.

Coat a 2-quart round soufflé dish with cooking spray; spoon batter into dish. Coat a sheet of aluminum foil with cooking spray; cover dish tightly with foil, coated side-down, so no water seeps in.

Pour 2 cups of hot water into a 5-quart or larger slow cooker; place covered baking dish in slow cooker. Cover slow cooker; cook on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours. Remove baking dish and cool on wire rack for 5 minutes. Turn cake upside down onto a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar before slicing into 8 pieces. Yields 1 slice per serving.

Points per slice: 3

Thanks to all who entered the Huggies Clean Team giveaway.

Consulting Random.org…

Here are your random numbers:

2	21

Ilissa H. and Julie S are the lucky winners!

I have notified them by e-mail. If by chance they do not respond, I will draw a new winner.

Enjoy your products, ladies! I am still waiting for mine. When we try them, I will be sure to post a review.

I struggle with American Christianity. There is the inclination to focus on what God can do for us and to become angry when God doesn’t make everything go our way.

Then there are the ever present prosperity preachers, who lead us to believe that if only we are faithful enough, God will heap riches upon us.

We have books that promise us a great life – a great life by worldly standards – if we are Christians. And in turn, leave people broken and bitter at God when it doesn’t happen.

So, when I was asked to review Joyce Meyer’s new book, which will be released next Tuesday, April 29, entitled, “The Secret to True Happiness,” I was skeptical, to say the least.

Well, I am glad to say now that I was also pleasantly surprised.

Joyce Meyer’s latest work, The Secret to True Happiness: Enjoy Today, Embrace Tomorrow, is not just another pseudo-biblical work promising a life of prosperity.

Instead, Ms. Meyer explains how God calls us to enjoy the life and the circumstances that we have been given. She teaches us how knowing who we are in Christ can allow us to experience true happiness even through the pain and suffering that life can bring us.

Unlike some other popular Christian books that shy away from scripture, The Secret to True Happiness embraces the Bible as the source of its truth.

I must admit, I will be re-reading and working through this book for some time to come. Joyce gives her readers a lot to read, think about, pray about, and apply to their lives.

Joyce Meyer walks us through:

Making the most of what we have,
Living by the Word,
Choosing to be happy,
Finding joy,
Knowing who we are in Christ and how God sees us,
Living by faith,
Trusting God through trials,
Finding rest,
Making good choices,
Having a right perspective about possessions,
Gaining wisdom,
Developing a true commitment to your Christian walk,
Being healthy,
Simplifying,
Cultivating good habits,
Letting God lead,
Practicing discipline,
Embracing tomorrow,
And more.

In The Secret to True Happiness, Joyce Meyer will walk you through how to apply biblical principles and a deeper understanding of your relationship with God and finally understand what it means to be truly happy.

The Secret to True Happiness: Enjoy Today, Embrace Tomorrow will be available on Tuesday, April 29, 2008. Pre-order yours on Amazon today.

I would also like to give a copy of The Secret to True Happiness to one of my readers. Just leave a comment and you will be entered to win.

When filling out the comment form, be sure to use a valid e-mail address, so I can contact you, if you win.

The winner will be drawn at random on Friday, April 25 at 5:00 PM EST.

This post is included in the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival. Stop over for loads more bloggy giveaways.

As I told you in my last post, Little E was up early this morning having trouble breathing. I naturally assumed that he had phlegm in his throat that was blocking his airway and didn’t think much of it.

That is until later this morning when I noticed his chest heaving as he struggled for breath.

I called the doctor and was trying to decide whether to bring him in right away or wait a while to see how he was when he came into the room with a look of panic on his face and announced, “Mom, I can’t breathe!”

The doctor, who was still on the phone, said she could see him right away.

I brought him up there and when she listened to him, she thought he had inhaled an object because she could not hear any breath.

She had him breathe in a nebulizer for 10 minutes, then listened again.

This time, she could hear his breathing, but it was wheezy.

She said that she is not ready to say he has asthma, but his body is “acting” like it has asthma and he needs to use an inhaler every four hours, as needed, and take 3 days of steroids.

I cannot explain the panic a momma feels when her little guy tells her he cannot breathe.

It looks like he is going to be fine, though.

Hopefully, he will not have serious asthma, but we will just have to wait and see what happens.

I don’t have my menu plan ready to post yet today, but you can still check out Menu Plan Monday over at Org Junkie.

The Veggie Enchiladas from last week’s menu plan were so awesome! In fact, I am going to have one for lunch today.

I ended up making them Saturday, instead of Friday, and we had them for lunch yesterday, too.

Next time, I will freeze half.

Little E has a really bad cold, so I was up with him at 5:45 yesterday and 4:30 this morning!

The poor little guy sounds bad. He is very congested and was having trouble breathing. I sat and rocked him for a while in a chair, then I took him into our room and propped him up with lots of pillows.

Rocking a 45 pound, 3′ 8″ child is not as easy as it is when they are smaller. My, that boy is a tall one!

He was able to go back to sleep in our room, but I did not sleep very well after that.

The Bloggy Giveaways Carnival is this week. There will be lots and lots of great giveaways to enter.

I have a giveaway going on right now for Huggies Clean Team products, but I have another one that I was planning for the carnival. I will post it tomorrow, so be sure and check back.

One more great thing to check out: The finalists from the Martha Stewart cupcake contest. Very cute and cool cupcakes! Go have a look.

That’s all for now. Have a magnificent Monday!

I had to share this comment that I read on a blog today. It was just so beautiful, so exactly what has been on my heart to write about lately, but said so much more succinctly and eloquently than I would have said it.

The post that the comment was made on is about prayers of protection. It is a discussion that expands on a previous post at the same blog entitled, The Divine Protection Racket? A Fixer God? The comment (on 19 Apr 2008 at 8:49 am) was made by Tim Melton.

When Jesus taught us to pray for “our daily bread”, he was teaching us to pray for intimacy with him. He is the daily bread. We don’t necessarily pray so that God will change our circumstances. We pray for the Spirit of Christ to fill us and sustain us in the midst of them. The difference between an atheist and a Christian is not that our circumstances are different, but that we are different in circumstances. We pray as a means of appropriating the Grace of Christ so that in even the worst that life has to offer, we plead: Lord Jesus, abide with me, hold me, sustain me, give me faith, grant me hope, feed my soul, help me to worship, help me to love, forgive me idolatry, walk with me through this.

The only, but huge, difference between me and an Atheist is that I have Jesus. Nothing more should be expected. Truly, nothing more should be desired.

When I first became a Christian, I fell into the trap of thinking that my life was going to be better (from a worldly perspective) than it was before. I believed that if I tithed, God would make sure we had money. If we gave to people who needed, God would make sure we did not struggle financially ourselves. If we trusted God, He would give us a life that we wanted.

Boy, was that wrong! In many ways my life is much worse (from a worldly perspective) than it was before.

As you can imagine, that led to a lot of struggles with my faith, which I have discussed a little on this blog before. I had to relearn my understanding of who God is and what it means to be a Christian.

This quote so beautifully sums up what I have struggled over the past 9 months or so to come to grips with: I have Jesus. Nothing more should be expected. Truly, nothing more should be desired.