HATE : Mar 18

August

August

Cathlete
Good morning! http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/happy059.gif



Today is a step workout! Yay!

http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/party/party0003.gif


And I'm not going to do it! Yay!

http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/party/party0003.gif

You can't make me. 'http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/mad/mad0037.gif

So I'm just getting myself ready to have some whole wheat toast with natural peanut butter and black sesame spread, and a cup of soy milk and then I'm heading to the Torture Chamber (my work room) to work on my deadlines.

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/violent084.gif

I went online last night and bought a recommended cat food called California Natural. I just got a couple cans of this and that to try out to see if everyone will like it or not. We've tried a few other recommended ones but they weren't hits. Hopefully at least Yoyo and Lulu will like it.

I also bought a ton of toys. I couldn't help myself. http://bestsmileys.com/blushing/7.gif

I've recently found out that Chami likes me to gently pull the hairs on her face LOL. Really. I very gently tug at all the tiny hairs around her face and she zones out and forgets about her bird stress.

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/whacky094.gif


Okay, my toast seems to be ready for spreading.

Have a good one!


JENNIFER - Yay for you and your short work week!

Oh, my guys love plastic, too. They love to destroy garbage bags. Mooch also loves string and I have to be especially careful because he'll eat it like it's a noodle.

>3 cupcakes today.

Were they green? http://bestsmileys.com/stpatricsday/2.gif

I'm so sorry to hear about your church friend. How scary and awful.

An early congrats to your parents on their 50th! Wow. That's fantastic. And a romantic weekend getaway sounds fabulous!

MICHELE - I totally forgot it was St. Patrick's Day yesterday! Did you wear green?

>I'm trying really hard to turn a new leaf and STOP procrastinating. I've been incredibly nonproductive lately

So, um,....er....did you workout yet? You MUST workout EVERY DAY!!

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/whacky062.gif

>The only way I freeze bananas is when I put them on a popsicle stick, dip them in chocolate, and roll them in chopped nuts

LOL. Well, I've no complaints there.

>I LOVE grilled veggies. How do you grill indoors -- do you have a grill pan, or does your stove top have a built in grill?

I don't have a grill, but it's easy. First you wash the veggies and cut them into the appropriate size, then you realize that when you wrote "grill" you actually meant "saute" but then you discover that since you're doing the fish in the one frying pan that you have, that you'll be steaming your vegetables. Easy as one-two-three!

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/whacky061.gif

>And the cream colored leather is very pretty!

This is the part I'm kind of scared of. I mean, there are many shades of cream. What if it's not the same shade of cream as the other items in my apartment?

> http://www.kidcorral.ca/forum/images/smilies/bs.gif

LMAO! It took me a minute to focus my eyes on his little sign!

SHANNON -

>I limit my computer time on weekends because I'm sick of computers, so I don't post much.

Well we're very happy that you're posting here with us!

No pressure or anything LOL.

>In case anybody's wondering, my weekend was foul.

Sorry to hear that. In that case I wish you could have been here with me to enjoy getting rid of my tomato glue. It was actually pretty fun double-lining some plastic garbage bags, putting the big bowl of glue in it and turning it over. It would NOT come out for a few minutes. Then I could hear the slow sound of air making its way between the glue and the bowl and, PLOB! A giant red glob plobbed out in the shape of a bowl! Good fun.

>you have me wondering what your kitchen looks like. Do you keep ANY food in there? LOL!

Well, let me paint the picture for you. I'm renting my apartment, so it's just what was here when I came.

Imagine a standard kitchen sink made of thin, cheap metal, and the length of...well, maybe two dining plates can line up side by side in it without any room left. Then imagine a sort of short dish rack next to it, and to the side of that, imagine two gas burners. That is my kitchen.

I have cupboard space only above and below my sink. My crock pot is in my work room.

The fridge (which is mine) sits directly in front of the gas range, so when I cook, I'm reaching over at an angle. I'm 5'2" and I can see the top of my fridge...my microwave sits on my fridge.

If I put two heads of lettuce in my veggie bin, it is full.

But to tell you the truth, when I was looking for an apartment, I wasn't cooking hardly at all, so I chose a place where the kitchen wasn't the selling point LMAO, obviously.

And so to finally answer your original question, yes, I do keep food here, but very little. x(

>My mom always freezes bananas in the skin - that's the only way she ever does it.

REALLY? How on earth does she get them out of the skin?! Clever woman!

JEN - So what did Chad bring?




Okay, now I've finished my toast and soy and am ready to face the wall in my work room!

Be good! :*
 
Hello Haters.

August-Good to hear your squirrels get into stuff too. Madrid is alot worse than Seville. please take a pic of your new dining set with the new chairs when it all comes in.

Jen-feeling better? What did Chad bring?


Shannon-Bummer about your weekend.

Michele-Your banana treat sounds good.


Just finished my oatmeal and granola, I bought some yogurt not what I normally get and it's too sweet so it's going to work as a giveaway. The CEO will be back today, things should go smooth once again but GOD only knows what she will find. But, only 3 more days to go.

Going to try to do HSTA tonight on a lowered high step cause those leg presses drive me nuts.

For my parents anniversary, sorry that I typed it wrong, the whole family is coming home for that weekend and they are renting a summer home on the lake besides their home. 5 kids, all of us less than 18 months apart, with 2 in-laws, 3 kids, and SO.


Have a Great Day!!
 
Hey, Jennifer!

Mom just went home from having dinner at my place and now I'm going back to work and was just passing by here.....

>For my parents anniversary, sorry that I typed it wrong, the whole family is coming home for that weekend and they are renting a summer home on the lake besides their home. 5 kids, all of us less than 18 months apart, with 2 in-laws, 3 kids, and SO.

OH NO! Your poor parents! LMAO. That's TOTALLY not a romantic getaway! LOL. But it sure sounds like a ton of fun and they'll be basking in love for sure. :)


Okay, so now tell me how do you eat oatmeal with granola? :eek:

>please take a pic of your new dining set with the new chairs when it all comes in.

LOL! More photos?!

Okay, I'm off to do some more work in hopes I can allow myself to the grocery store soon.


:+
 
Holy smokes! I guess I better post that recipe now so Augie will have it before she goes to the grocery store! LMAO!!

I adapted Shelley's recipe to accommodate my tastes, and to allow for cooking dried lentils right in the crockpot -- here you go!

Lentil Sloopy Joes a la Michele

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped fine
1 small red bell pepper, diced (optional)
1 stalk celery, chopped fine (if you don't use a pepper, then use 2 or 3 stalks of celery)
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon (or to taste) chili powder
dash of red pepper flakes or hot pepper sauce to taste
1½ cups dried brown or green lentils, picked over and rinsed
1 (14.5 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
3 cups water
2 tablespoons soy sauce (I used tamari)
1 tablespoon prepared mustard (I used Dijon)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat; add the onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, and sauté until softened and translucent. (If you want, you can just skip this part and throw everything directly into the crockpot, but I prefer to sauté it first -- I think it adds more flavor ;) )

Add chili powder, stirring to coat. If using red pepper flakes, add them now.

Transfer mixture to a slow cooker; add in the lentils, tomatoes, water, soy sauce, mustard, brown sugar, salt, and pepper; stir to combine. If using hot pepper sauce, add it now.

Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours.

If it seems like there’s too much liquid towards the end of the cooking time, set it to high and put the lid slightly ajar. This will help to thicken it up.

Serve sloppy joe style on buns, or toss with your favorite pasta, or just eat it in a big ol' bowl like Michele’s DH – LMAO!!!


I'll BBL for chatting :*
 
All right! I'm gettin' me Sloppeh this week! :D Thanks!

And I'm going grocery shopping tomorrow for my reward for working like a nut...though I'm still not sure if what I worked on is going to be good. I guess I'll know better after I've had some sleep and time away from it.


So.

Everyone help your poor Kitchen Flunk. Tell me what you think are staples in a kitchen that I should buy tomorrow.

I know one of them will be garlic powder, as that seems to be one that I often see in those recipes. And I guess I'll get a bunch of different canned beans.

Okay so here it is :

OMG, August, anyone who's anyone has _________ in their kitchen!



ETA - LMAO, I just noticed your recipe is for Sloopy Joes. :p
 
Staples! Lessee...http://bestsmileys.com/thinking/4.gif

Pasta

Canned tomatoes are a must -- all kinds -- diced, crushed, sauce, or whole peeled that you can puree yourself.

Broth -- in resealable cartons if you can find it.

Sea salt and/or kosher salt

Pasta

Whole peppercorns and a pepper grinder

I NEVER use garlic powder -- I buy garlic bulbs. I highly recommend a garlic press, too, because it makes processing garlic a snap!
http://www.lehmans.com/images/us/local/products/detail/GP2X.f.jpg

Cinnamon -- ground and sticks

My most frequently used dried spices and herbs are thyme, basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, rosemary, bay leaves, and ginger

Pasta

Soy sauce (Tamari)

Vinegars -- balsamic, red wine, and white wine are the ones I use most

Extra virgin olive oil and canola oil

Pasta

You might want to keep a little sugar, brown sugar, and flour on hand. I buy them in the smallest quantities available because I really don't bake, and I just need small amounts sometimes for recipes.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head, and this should be more than enough to get you started :p

Next class -- essential kitchen gadgets and gizmo's :p :7

ETA LENTILS -- don't forget the lentils!

ETA again MUSTARD -- Dijon is best -- I use it for seasoning ALL THE TIME!

ETA Did I mention pasta!? You NEED pasta!:p
 
OMG, you are so kind to write all that out.

I'm going to write them all down and buy them all tomorrow!

You think I'm joking!

And would you believe that I do have a garlic press? And actually, the reason I don't have garlic powder is because I usually have garlic, and I figured that was healthier. Garlic it is!

I've got to memo this immediately.



:D :D :D :D :D


:* :* :* :* :* :* :* Thank you thank you!
 
Chili powder! I almost forgot chili powder! I don't use it ALL the time, but I like to keep a small container on hand.

Oh! And if you like SPICY food -- you might want cayenne pepper. The spices and herbs I listed are the ones I use the most, but most of my cooking is based on European/Italian cuisine. You should get what YOU like and what you think you will use. ;)
 
Chili powder....check!


>You should get what YOU like and what you think you will use.

LOL! What I think I'll use....LOL.


;)


ETA : Those spices you listed (thyme, basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, rosemary, bay leaves, and ginger) those are all dried? And the ginger is in a tube, or you buy it fresh all the time?



ETA : There. I just made my monster grocery list and copied a bunch of recipes I want to try out so I can print them all up tomorrow! WOooooOOoo HooOOooOo!

And I also ordered a bunch more cat food online for Mom!

Get outta my way! I can't be stopped!! }(
 
Hey Augie, you little homemaker, you!! :)

Ginger -- I keep fresh on hand, but I like to have some dried, too. You can buy it in little glass jars in the spice aisle and it will say "Ground Ginger" on the label.
http://www.mccormick.com/assets/225_6425_GrdGinger.gif


I don't use this brand, but you get the idea. If you use a lot of fresh ginger maybe you won't even want this. I sometimes add it to dishes for a little kick, but you can use fresh, too. Actually, I usually have to throw the ground stuff away because it takes me YEARS to use a whole bottle of it. Yeah, scratch that one off your list. It'll likely go to waste. :p

So, what'cha cooking up tomorrow!?
 
>in the spice aisle and it will say "Ground Ginger" on the label.

No it won't. Have you forgotten where I live? :p

They have tubes of ginger and wasabi all over the place here, and the tubes are fairly small. I can get me some ginger! I like ginger!

>So, what'cha cooking up tomorrow!?

Nothin! LOL. Tomorrow I'll take Mom out for dinner and then we'll go grocery shopping, then the stuff will be delivered the following day, so that's when I'll cook!

I want to cook the Sloppy Joes, and I want to cook an Indian curry, and White Beans and Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Creamy Vegetarian Lentil-Mushroom Soup and Pumpkin and Pinto Bean Chili. :) :)


Oh, hey, I bought a non-shredding scratch board for Cham! Hopefully she'll like it and I'll be able to do a switcheroo rather than adding more stuff to my place...
 
>>in the spice aisle and it will say "Ground Ginger" on the label.

>No it won't. Have you forgotten where I live? :p

ROTFLMAO!! By all means, get the tube!!

>Tomorrow I'll take Mom out for dinner and then we'll go grocery
>shopping, then the stuff
>will be delivered the following day, so that's when I'll cook!

Oh man, I wish I could get my groceries delivered! I wish I could just buy them online AND get them delivered! I hate grocery shopping, but DH refers to it as a "Big Adventure" P ;(

A non-shredding scratch board!? I must shop! LMAO!!
 
It costs Mom and me about $5 to have all our groceries delivered. If not, we'd have to take a taxi back to our apartment building for at least $8, and then we'd have to lug it up to our rooms.

So what we usually do is we fill both our carts to the tilt LOL and then have it delivered and lugged up to our doorsteps (they're nice and allow us to pay for just one delivery, even though they are delivering to two doors).


>A non-shredding scratch board!? I must shop! LMAO!!

Not like I need to shop for clothing, oh MAN!


ETA : Now I'm hungry.

But it's 2am and I should sleep. I need my energy for tomorrow's grocery shopping. :D

I hope your beans turn out yummy, MIchele! Thanks again for the list!

If anyone thinks of anything else, I'll be checking tomorrow so tell me!!

Night night!
 
I need clothes, too. You should see what I wear around the house! And for going out? I have about 2 outfits and they're each about 5 years old! I look so shabby -- I really do. It's a good thing I'm a hermit and rarely leave my house. OTOH, maybe if I had nicer clothes I'd go out more -- lol!

Oh hey, what are you going to do with your hair? Didn't you say your hair is all the way down to there? OMG I wouldn't be able to handle that. It must take forever to wash and dry! Chop it off, I say!! My hair is curly so I keep it in longish layers and just let it do it's thing. I have to use TONS of conditioner and gel to keep it from frizzing out like an afro -- LMAO! My hair is a little past my shoulders, but it looks like it's just below my chin.

Speaking of grocery shopping, I have to do that today. I probably better go now. I never made it yesterday, but overall, I was more productive than usual :p
 
Hello haters.

August - you know what you need to do? You need to plant yourself a little herb garden and put it out on your balcony. There is nothin' better then adding fresh herbs to your food. I put one in a window box and put it on my deck every summer. I plant oregano, basil, rosemary and dill. It it so easy - all you have to do is remember to water it.

I love my garlic press too - I use it all the time.

Michele - thanks for posting your recipe. I'm going to print it off and compare it to Shelley's. Heck, I might even make my own version. But I like how you added the lentils dry - very smart!!!
I'm with you on the clothes situation - or lack there of. I tried on some stuff at the mall yesterday and I literally wanted to smash the mirrors. I HATE shopping for clothes. When I was smaller I would go shopping all the time and had a ton of stuff, but I'm not feeling much like clothes shopping these days. I don't go many places either - besides work. And I wear the same stuff to work all the time. I did see some cute sandals that I liked. I'll see if I can find them. Here they are: http://www.shoes.com/product.asp?p=1013851&variant_id=65289

Jennifer - I am so sorry about your friend at church. After today, only 2 more work days to go. Yeah for you!!!

Jen - so what did Chad bring you for dinner last night?

Hi Shannon!

Looky here at what I'll be ordering very soon:

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Only-Natural-Pet-GasBGone-Herbal-Formula/999071.aspx

If you are eating, don't read: They have a fancy name like GasBGone but I'm calling it "Fart Eliminator"!!!! Ralphie has been tooting like you can't even imagine and making the air unpleasant for us all. Yesterday I took him in the car with me and I wanted to pull over and put him in the truck. I was seriously gagging and even spraying Fabreeze did not help. Picture this to get a feeling of how horrible it was. I had to run in the grocery store to pick up my ham for Easter. So I cracked the windows a bit so he would have some air. I was probably in the store no more then 10 minutes. I opened the trunk to unload my stuff and I could smell his gas and I would OUTSIDE of my car. It was horrible. As a matter of fact, I dropped him back off at home before going to pick up Gabe b/c I couldn't take it anymore. Nasty, nasty, nasty!!!!!

So I got about 4 inches cut off my hair. It is now only to my shoulderblades. It was to the middle of my back. I like it.

I best get back to work so I'll chat with you all later!
 
Hi gals -

AUGIE!!! I'm so excited - you are really going to fill that kitchen up to the ceiling! Where on earth will you put it all?GASP! My kitchen is pretty small, but OMG, I just can't imagine having to lean over the fridge to use the stove. I hope you have fun!

Jennifer - the vacation countdown continues!!! Hang in there. You'll make it. I hope you get a good workout from HSTA tonight.

Cuz - Thank you for taking care of August. Her kitchen is in good hands with you around.

Work continues to be hellish. But that big project has to be done today, no matter what, so there is relief in sight.

My friendly Haters, please don't hate me or throw tomatoes or anything.... I did Step Blast last night... and LOVED it! It's been ages since I did it because of my calf injury. I didn't make it quite all the way through the routine, but finished up on my elliptical. OMG, all that stepping was SOOOO FUN.

All right. I should get back to work. Blah.
 
DANA!! Oh, I hate shopping for clothes, too. Everything looks terrible on me. It's so depressing. And I feel like I work out quite a bit http://www.kidcorral.ca/forum/images/smilies/bs.gif

Well, maybe thats a bit of an exaggeration, but I'm turning a new leaf! I'm going to maintain my clean eating and exercise MOST days -- at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

I LOVE the shoes! LOVE!

ROTFLMAO at the farting doggie!! OMG I'm laughing so hard my stomach hurts!

You must post a picture of your new hair!!

OMG I haven't even read most of this thread. I started right in with my recipe and then I forgot to read the rest. Let me see what's going on with Jennifer's friend.
 
CUZ!! I could NEVER hate YOU! But I might throw something at you -- lol! But not to worry -- I won't throw tomatoes -- they stain -- lol!

I'm really glad that you were able to do a workout you enjoy! I know how much your step workouts mean to you, though I can't imagine why :p

I'm sending powerful project vibes your way~~~~~~~~~~~~

JENNIFER -- Oh my, I'm so sorry about your friend! This is terrible news! I've added her to my prayer list, and you too. I'll never forget how devastated I was when I learned that one of my oldest and dearest friends was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Wow! My congratulations to your parents on their 50th Wedding Anniversary! Your plans sound so nice. I'm going to have to look up that area of Michigan -- I'm not familiar with it. I've been to Mackinaw Island, though, and I LOVED it. We stayed at the Grand Hotel and had a wonderful time!

JEN -- what's happening with the kitty?

Alrighty, I'm off to the grocery store! I'll BBL :*
 
Hello Haters.

2 more days!! Yahoo!!

Michele-Going to Mackinac, depending on whether you drove I-75 or US 131, you go west near Gaylord all the way to Lake MI. It's called the GOLD COAST cause of the sunsets and all the money that's there from ChicagoLand, some celebs, and Detroiters. Never been to The Grand Hotel to stay, my family used to stay at on the water called the Iraqouis.

August-Have fun at the grocery store.


All this food pics made me hungry.


TIme for HSTA.
 
Augie -- I thought of a few more things you need to add to your shopping list :D

This is an absolute MUST! And they're good fer ya, too -- all organic and made with whole grain spelt. And, I mean, you gotta have treats, right!? :9
http://www.shashabread.com/images/TUBspeltUSAsolo_mar_w.jpg

And don't forget this!
http://www.lakechamplainchocolates.com/images/Product/featured/WS06-2Y504-012005.jpg

Oh, and Easter is this Sunday so you must have this!
http://www.lakechamplainchocolates.com/images/Product/larger_view/E312001007.jpg

What would Easter be without THIS!
http://www.lakechamplainchocolates.com/images/Product/larger_view/WS06-E307-000002-lg.jpg

And you gotta have these ;)
http://jellybelly.com/NR/rdonlyres/FE5020D9-E00F-42FA-BD58-EAD60EC05DE1/0/1052990.jpg

http://www.almostsmart.com/upload/files/2006/Apr/Ostern1.jpg
 
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