Wow. Has it really been 2 weeks since I last popped in to give an update?  There really isn’t much news on The Husband’s situation.  Most likely, we won’t hear anything until September, so if you would, please… please continue to lift him up in prayer.  Thank you to all of those who already [...]]]>

**not gluten free**

Wow. Has it really been 2 weeks since I last popped in to give an update?  There really isn’t much news on The Husband’s situation.  Most likely, we won’t hear anything until September, so if you would, please… please continue to lift him up in prayer.  Thank you to all of those who already are!  I’ve spent my days trying to be as normal as possible so there is some sort of stability in our lives.  Some days this works… other days it’s just further irritation.  

To update on my life, in addition to my normal kickboxing classes, I’ve been beating myself up at the track with my friend Kara on the off days.  I’m sure this isn’t anything to many of you, but I can jog 2 miles without taking a walk break!  Of course I’m slow as molasses, but the endurance is there!  I feel great even if I’m not seeing any major changes yet.

I’ve added an additional hour and half of workout time to my days, an hour to workout, half an hour to shower and clean up my stinky self.  That seriously cuts into my social time and my photo time and my cooking time!  I try to do my workouts right after work, but that normally leaves us having dinner between 8:30 and 9:00!  Fortunately, I have a small arsenal of speedy dinners on hand that are healthy and delicious.

Many moons ago I handed my new* (at the time) Rachael Ray cookbook: 365 No Repeats to The Husband and told him to pick something for dinner.  He turned to the middle of the book and found a few pictures, one of which were Chipotle Chicken Rolls.  ”Make these.” he says.  With a groan, I added the ingredients to my grocery list and set out to make them later that evening.  Not expecting these to be anything special (or any good at all!) I half-heartedly threw them together, shoved them in the oven and went about my merry way.  The dinner we had 20 minutes later blew my socks off!

Since then, the chipotle chicken rolls have been a staple in our house.  Served at least every 6 weeks, we’ve perfected the roll.  With the firm bite of chicken, the kick of the chipotle, tangy cheese, and tart dipping sauce, these truly are perfect. Better yet, they come together in less than 10 minutes, go in a hot oven for 25 and dinner is served.

Chipotle Chicken Rolls with Avocado Lime Dipping Sauce
Adapted from Rachael Ray

1 package ground chicken breast
1 bunch scallions, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 c freshly shredded extra sharp cheddar
2 chipotles in adobo sauce,  chopped (use juice too)
Salt and pepper (go a little heavy on the salt)
8 sheets phyllo dough, thawed
butter flavored PAM non-stick spray

For the sauce:
1 large ripe avocado, pitted and peeled
Zest of 1 lime, juice of 2
Handful cilantro leaves,
Salt (go shy on this)
1/4 c olive oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with foil, then spray heavily with non-stick spray; set aside.  Prepare a large ziploc bag by opening it and folding down the zipper part.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, garlic, scallions, cheese and chipotles and season with salt and pepper.  I say go a little heavy on the salt because ground chicken really seems to need additional salt to pull the flavors together.  So for me, instead of using a small pinch of (kosher) salt, I use a larger pinch… nothing more than a teaspoon.  If using regular table salt, I wouldn’t go more than 1/2 teaspoon.  I use latex gloves and mix this by hand.  Take the dough and place it into the ziploc bag, trimming about an inch and half off of one of the bottom corners, creating a pastry bag.  Push the chicken mixture to the corner but not through the hole.  Set aside as you prepare the phyllo.

I used to have a hard time using phyllo because I couldn’t stand the thought of using so much butter for a main dish.  Thankfully, butter-flavored PAM non-stick spray does the same thing!

Lay out a sheet of phyllo on a clean, dry surface with the widest part closest to you. Spray lightly with the PAM spray, taking care to wet the edges.  Layer another sheet of phyllo on top of the first, spray with PAM, then repeat 2 more times so you have 4 sheets that have been sprayed.  On the widest part of the phyllo, about 1″ from the edge, moving left to right, take the make-shift pastry bag filled with chicken and pipe a fat line of chicken (use half ).  (see my nifty diagram!)  Tuck the 1″ overlay over the chicken, then roll away from you, covering the chicken with phyllo.  Place on the foil lined cookie sheet.  Repeat with the remaining phyllo and chicken. Spray tops with more butter-flavored PAM and bake at 400 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, or until phyllo is lightly brown and the chicken does not give when pressed lightly.

Let cool 5 minutes before serving.

For the dipping sauce, place the avocado, salt, lime zest, lime juice, cilantro and salt in a blender, pulse until the avocado breaks down, then turn the blender on low and drizzle in the olive oil until smooth.

*Unbelievable to me that as I found that link I realized the book was published in 2005… I’ve been making these for 5 years!  Sheesh, where does the time go?

See, I believe in these so firmly that I made a silly diagram to urge you along!  Please forgive my skilz. I’m not an artist.

I wrote a few weeks ago about being recharged with a mission to take better care of myself.  The mission, appropriately named, Operation Be Hot Again.  I confessed to knowing the tiggers for myself.  At 27 years old, I know what’s going to work and what isn’t.  

I got [...]]]>

From the top of hill number one

I wrote a few weeks ago about being recharged with a mission to take better care of myself.  The mission, appropriately named, Operation Be Hot Again.  I confessed to knowing the tiggers for myself.  At 27 years old, I know what’s going to work and what isn’t.  

I got an email from a fellow food blogger I know through Barefoot, she mentioned that she could have written my post herself.  A few emails later, we’ve formed an alliance with each other.  We’ll share our goals, motivations and most importantly, hold each other up when the going gets tough.  

I didn’t wake up one morning and discover that I’d packed on the pounds overnight.  It’s not a quick process.  It’s a million mistakes made along the way that landed me in front of the mirror knocking and saying, “Hello?  Can the real me show up, because that fat girl is so not her.”  

Speaking with The Father-In-Law last night, we decided that he’d join in Operation Be Hot Again as well!  I think I may have even convinced him to start his own blog!  He’s got great stories to tell, and he’ll be an inspiration to all of us.

My fellow foodie would like to loose the same amount of weight that I’d like to loose.  We’re both looking at a minimum of 40lbs.  She’s actually set her goal to be her sixth wedding anniversary in February.  The Husband and I will be sharing our sixth anniversary in January… and I’m totally on board with this.  The number may seem high, but it’s actually an attainable goal.  Very attainable.  She’s purchased a few DVDs to do some at-home workouts to get in the groove of things again.  

I’m not a fan of running, in fact it hurts my back so badly I can barely walk the next day.  You see, I’m ah… well endowed.  My doctor in North Carolina actually cautioned me away from running due to possible back injury (I had surgery on my spine about 18 months ago).  So I walk.  Briskly.   

This is what I know to work for me:  

I have to pray every day for the strength of God to come through to me to continue on.  Without Him, I don’t know that I’m strong enough for anything.

I can’t shut out certain foods because I’ll binge and do the bulimia thing for a few days.  I will eat anything, but in moderation.  My mom and I often talk about The Clean Plate Club, meaning that as a child, she was told to clean her plate regardless of whether she was full or not.  She repeated The Clean Plate Club with The Brother and I.  I learned to overeat at a young age.  So now, after ten bites, I start to assess if I’m still hungry.  I’ll take one bite at a time, putting my fork down to gauge my hunger.  I’ve seen a stomach and it’s roughly the size of my hand, so anytime my plate is loaded with food greater than the size of my hand, I know I’m going to possibly be in an situation to overeat.  As silly as it sounds, when eating out, I often ask for a to-go box when my food is delivered.  Most of the time, I don’t bother to bring it home knowing I won’t reheat it… but cutting the portion in half often is still a bit much.  

Protein and calcium are key to my success.  Fortunately for me, my former neighbors in North Carolina were health nuts and turned me on to Whey Protein.  I quickly fell in love with protein shakes and made them for breakfast every morning until we moved to Kansas.  I’m 45 minutes away from a Commissary.  I used to grab GNC Whey Protein at the Commissary for $16 a jug.  Here, the same protein is $49.99.  I haven’t found any other whey protein much cheaper, so I gave it up.  Between the expense of fruit, milk and then the $100 a month on protein… I just couldn’t do it.  Last weekend while The Husband and I were at Sam’s Club I noticed the jugs of protein and the very attractive price of $13.98!  It’s Soy Protein, but it’s still wonderful.  We snatched up the protein, a bag of frozen strawberries, another gallon of milk and we were on our way.  I start my day around 6:30 with a protein shake that keeps me full until about 10:30, then eat a yogurt (which I choke down because I can’t stand it!)

I have to take a walk that challenges me.  I have to push myself, feel my muscles burn or I won’t go.  LaNeighbor walks with me frequently, but she’s always a few steps behind me trying to catch up.  I have silently vowed to make it a goal never to let her catch up.  It pushes us both.  We started a new path a few weeks ago that I absolutely love. 

So for now, I’m not weighing myself.  I’m going to gauge my success with Operation Be Hot Again by determining how I feel and how my clothes fit.  I have a closet full of clothes that My Left Arm and I slaved over putting together… I love the clothes I have and can’t wait to look good in them again!

Want to take a walk with me?  I live close enough to the lake that I can see it when I step out my front door.  I walk down to the lake, up to the top of a hill that’s about a mile from the house, back down, up another hill then circle around to the house.  The hills look really uninspiring, but I guarantee, they’re a pain in the rear (literally).  

My house is on the left, on the other side of the hill

In the above picture, I’m about 1/4 mile from the house.

The view to hill number one.

Now I’m about 1/2 mile from the house.

Brown Eyed Susans line the path.

I live in what has been termed “The Most Active City in Kansas.”  We have a ton of beautiful walking and bike trails.  Most of them have beautiful scenery lining the walk.

From the bottom looking up

I know it doesn’t look too ominous but seriously, once you’ve wound your way around the hill to get to the top, it’s quite a nice workout for your toosh.  You’ve made it a mile and about 1/4 already!

The path up the hill

The path isn’t paved, I hope they don’t ever pave it… it’s really cool.

From the top

My house is over in the left… but it’s hard to see at this point.

Bottom of hill two

Down the first hill, back down the path to the bottom of hill two.  Now, we’re about 2 1/2 miles in.  The trek up this hill is between 1/4 and 1/2 mile.  I swear, the winding of this thing kills.  It’s like it never ends.  Seriously.  But it feels great!

From the top of hill two

The rest of the walk home is pretty uneventful.  I usually see planes flying overhead, I pass through a state park and then back to the house.  The whole walk is about 3 1/2 miles… but a really good 3 1/2.  

Exhausted yet?  Want to join us as we get fit?  Send me an email at cats(dot)pajamas(at)gmail(dot)com.  I’d love to have you!

Cat’s Protein Shake

In a blender, pour in frozen sliced strawberries to the 2 cup mark.  Pour milk (I always use 1%) to the 2 1/2 cup level, then add two scoops vanilla flavored soy protein.  Pour into a glass, stick a straw in it and move on.  Delish! Just enough for two shakes.

A few weeks ago, my friend, A Soldier’s Wife posted an article that another MilWife had written about voting.  I was relaying the article to The Husband that night when I started to ask questions about where we [...]]]> **not gluten free**

*Disclaimer- this turned out to be way longer than I intended… sorry for the novel today!

A few weeks ago, my friend, A Soldier’s Wife posted an article that another MilWife had written about voting.  I was relaying the article to The Husband that night when I started to ask questions about where we would go to vote this year.  In North Carolina, we voted at the City Library about 1/2 mile from the house.  I remember walking there the morning of the last election, loving the brisk walk in the cool North Carolina November.  I relayed my fears to The Husband, “You don’t think they’ll forget about us do you?  We live on a brand new street and we haven’t gotten anything in the mail telling us where to go.”  His reply, ever so calm was, of course they won’t forget.  If we don’t get anything mailed to us soon, we’ll call and find out.”  Oh.  Okay.  I guess I never thought about that… occasionally I will blow small problems into huge issues.

The thoughts niggled in my mind… I felt like we should have gotten something by this point.  VOTE HERE never came.  In the middle of the night last Monday I awoke in a cold sweat at 2:37.  I haven’t registered to vote in Kansas! As a military wife, I find it completely unnecessary to get a new drivers license in each state we live.  I know, I know… probably not the right thing to do.  After The Husband grabbed my pony tail and yanked me back down to bed I calmed down a bit, I woke (at 6:00) with a resolution.  Call the DMV.  Simple.

The DMV said, “Of course you can still register to vote.  Do you have a KS Drivers License?”  I replied. “No.  What do I need to do to get it?”  The nice man asked, “Have you ever had a KS DL?”  No.  “Are you married?”  Yes.  “Okay, we need your old drivers license from North Carolina, an original birth certificate, your original marriage license and mail with your name and address on it.”  Oh.  Okay.  Simple.  I called my dad.  “Daaaaaddy?”  “What?” he curtly replied, knowing that when I call him “daddy” something bad is about to happen.  “Do you have my original birth certificate?”  “Oh. No bonkin, I gave that to you years ago.”  Shiiiiiiiit.

The Husband and I are extremely organized.  We have to be.  First of all, we move every 3-4 years, second… the military is really good about wanting documents at the drop of the hat.  We keep everything in our safe, so at lunch I ran home and tore open the safe.  Inside I found our will, trust, power of attorney, living will, four social security cards (two in my maiden name, two in my married name… didn’t even know that was possible) diplomas, The Husband’s birth certificate (thank you Jesus!), The Husband’s social security card, his PIF (for those non-military out there, that’s the Personal Information File… you have to take it when you leave).  Then I found the bottom of the safe.  Crap, crap, crap.  No birth certificate, original or otherwise.

I called the cool guy at the DMV again.  “Dude.  I have looked everywhere.  No birth certificate.  I do, however, have four social security cards… I have a military ID… please tell me that something else will work.”  He oozed empathy, “I’m sorry ma’am.  We have to have the birth certificate.”  Well crap on a biscuit.

“Daaaaady” I called again.  “Oh, Lord.  What now?” he asked.  “Dad, can you please, please pretty please look in the safe one last time to see if you have my birth certificate?”  “Oh, sure.  I’ll call you in a couple hours.  I have some errands I need to finish” he tells me.”  “Sweet!  Oh, and daddy?” I asked.  “(insert the f-word here) what now?”  he replied (really, he wasn’t upset… he can just be cantankerous at times).  “I’ll make you cheese and onion enchiladas if you find my birth certificate.”  I offered.  “Oh… I’m on it.  No worries.”

While I waited on my dad I called the Vital Records office in Missouri just in case.  For a mere $24.95 and a major credit card… I can be born again in a little over 10 days.  (Thank God it doesn’t take that long for our Savior, right?)  My dad calls back a few very long hours later.  “Hey bonkin, if you send me a print of your heel, I’ll match it to this little piece of paper here and see if it matches up.” he jokes.  “YOU FOUND IT!” I screamed.  “Yeah.  I’ll give it to your mother… you can pick it up this weekend when you’re in The City.”  Thank you Jesus!

I snatched the birth certificate from my mom’s glove box when The Husband and I were in The City for the two-year old’s birthday party this past weekend.  The DMV is open Tuesday through Friday, 7:30 to 5:30.  I made my way over there on Wednesday, with a file folder containing my entire identity… my social security card, my NC DL, my marriage certificate, my birth certificate and mail in my name.  A sign on the door announces cash or check only.  I’m a no-cash kinda  gal.  Hmm…  this means I will have to figure out how to use an ATM.  (The Husband gives me cash, as I am terrified of the metal teller).  I glance at my watch.  5:15. Crap.  I hop in the car, zoom out of the parking lot, spot an ATM, pull my car up to it and promptly smack my car door into the concrete.  Whoops.  That’ll make The Husband happy.  I grab cash, run back to the DMV.  5:18. Sweet.

A nice woman says, “Can I help you?”  I walk up, hand her my folder of identity and say, “I need to get my drivers license.”  “Okay.” She replies.  I answer the obligatory questions… Are you a convict?  Are you on drugs? She then asks, “Do you want to register to vote?” I reply, “Yes.  That’s the only reason I’m here today.”  She then asked, “Do you want to declare a particular party?”  “Republican.” I proudly state.  “Why?” she asks in one of those tones that drips with pity.  “Because I’m a Military Wife.  It’s my husband’s job to help defend the freedoms of this country.  I believe John McCain will keep the fight off our soil and in the lands of those that want to kill us.  I believe that John McCain is concerned about the people and not pursuing his popularity. He fights for what he believes in.  He listens to the men and women of this country.  I believe in him.”  She looks at me like she’s heard something for the first time.  Her entire demeanor has changed.  She says, “I’ve been undecided until now.  Thank you.”  Oh.  Happy dance.

She ushers me over to the picture wall.  I lay my folder down on the community counter-top while she hands me change, I give the most unattractive smile of my life.  Snap.  Done.  She hands me a piece of paper with my picture on it (eww) along with my address, DOB and a new number.  She cuts my NC DL in half, and keeps the part with the number. I grab my handbag  and walk out the door.  Good day.  I registered.  I helped someone make a very important decision.  Sweet.  I hopped on the highway to head home and drop my bracelet off at the jeweler. (Incidentally, the same day I broke the bracelet that The Husband gave me seven years ago.  I haven’t taken it off my wrist for seven years.  I’ll get it back (hopefully) on Monday.)  As I pull into the toll booth to pay my fare, I have a niggling in my mind.  Something is missing. I glance at the passenger seat.  My handbag is there.  Whew. Cell phone and wallet are in the bag.  Whew again.  Oh shit. Where is my identity folder?!??!?!?!

That’s right.  I left it at the DMV.  I hand forty cents to the toll booth operator.  “Do you happen to have the number to the DMV?” I practically cry.  “Oh, no honey, but I have a phone book.  You want that?” he asks.  “Please.  Thank you.  I’ll bring it right back.”  I pull to the side and glance down in my lap.  A phone book.  I come from the generation of yellowpages.com… I don’t know how to use a phone book.  I simply rip the coupons out of the one we get at the house and display in on my desk as if I’m an upstanding citizen and use my phone book regularly.  I look under D’s.  Nothing.  I look in the yellow paper part.  Nothing.  Finally, I find government listings.  Department of Motor Vehicles.  I glance at my phone.  Five Thirty Three. I called anyway.  The cool dude answers!  “Is this Cat?” as he answers the phone?”  “Huh? I was just there getting a new drivers license and I left my entire identity on the counter!” I practically scream.  “It’s okay. I’ve got it right here.  You commin back tonight hun?”

I told him I’d pick it up the next day.  “Thank you so much!” I tell him.  I dropped my bracelet at the jewelers and went home to make the only thing that can comfort me when I loose my identity.  Pasta… but an Operation Be Hot Again friendly pasta.

Thank you, Brat and ASW for inadvertently reminding me to vote before it was too late.

Vegetable Stuffed Shells
A Delta Whiskey Original

1 package jumbo shells
1 box frozen spinach, defrosted and squeezed dry
3 c fresh broccoli florets
1 c carrots (about 4 carrots or 1 c baby carrots)
1 1/2 lb 2% milkfat cottage cheese
Salt & Pepper, to taste
About 1 T crushed red pepper flakes
Handful freshly chopped basil (or about 2 T dried)
1/2 medium onion, finely diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 c marinara sauce (I make my old standard)
2 c 2% milkfat Italian cheese blend

Par-boil the pasta for about 4 minutes.  The shells should not be cooked all the way through, just cooked enough that you can mess with them a bit.  Remove to a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper or foil.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

I use a food processor to process the broccoli, carrots, onion and garlic.  Occasionally, I’ll add the cottage cheese in the processor if I need to trick someone into thinking they aren’t eating healthy.  So.  In the food processor, do one vegetable at a time.  Add broccoli, pulse until the broccoli is chopped very fine… about pea sized.  Repeat with carrots, then onions and garlic.  Combine the vegetables and cottage cheese in a large bowl.  Season with salt, pepper and crushed red pepper.  Add basil at this point if you are so inclined.

Pour about 1/4″ marinara into a large baking dish (my shells never fit into one baking dish so I can’t give you a good estimate of cuppage here). Stuff the shells using a teaspoon until the filling is overflowing from the pot.  Arrange the stuffed shells in the baking dish in a single layer.  Top with Italian Cheese blend, cover with foil, bake for 30 minutes.  Remove foil and bake another 15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly.  Let stand a few minutes so they don’t loose shape.  Enjoy!

*Operation Be Hot Again update:  This morning I was pulling my hair out trying to figure out what to wear today when I snatched a pair of pants off the back of the laundry room door thinking, The last time I wore these pants I looked like a stuffed sausage. I ironed them anyway and decided that I would have to deal with it.  Guess what!  They fit… and they’re even a little loose!!!!!  Go Cat, Go Cat, Go, Go, Go Cat!

Mosey on over this weekend and you can take a power walk with me.  I have pictures of my beautiful walk!