Keto Recipe for Wendy's Frosty

 I found a recipe on a Pre-Diabetic site and thought I'd give it a whirl.  For a Wendy's Frosty of sorts.

I halved the recipe because it's for 2 servings and Leon isn't up yet to try out his half of it. But here it is for 2.

Wendy's Frosty - Lo Carb knockoff - 2 servings

1 cup unsweetened Almond Milk

2 tablespoons Sugar free Pudding mix

2 packets of Stevia, I used Splenda packets

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon unsweetened Cocoa powder

10-12 ice cubes

2 tablespoons lite Whipped Topping (optional) (I didn't have any on hand today)

Blend up for at least 1 minute to get all the ice chunks smoothed out.

Pour and enjoy!

It really wasn't bad at all and I'll make it again.  I might spring for the entire recipe as one serving though.  It only filled up my glass halfway.

And I'll pick up some lite whipped topping.

The original recipe is HERE

The nutritional facts say that it has 28 carbs in each servings, um WHA??!!!

That's not lo-carb in my book.

So I have the free version of My Fitness Pal app on my phone and I created the recipe there with all the ingredients except the lite whipped topping.  According to My Fitness Pal, a single serving has 2.9 carbs.

Yep - I'm going to drink the whole thing next time!

To Sugar or NOT To Sugar?

 I haven't tried the mower trick yet.  We're down a car and I don't want to walk over.  I guess I could ride Leon's bike...  eh.  Got enough stuff to do at home.

But I'm confident that the new tool I bought will help.  Maybe when someone gets home I'll run over.

Leon and I attempted to make homemade chocolate chips this morning!  I don't think the sugar was completely dissolved so the first little chips in the molds were just coconut oil and chocolate.  But the pan with the final bits with sugary sludge in it were a hit!  I'll drink more water today so my blood sugar won't be so high. :) the sacrifices we make!

He fell asleep shortly after we finished the first batch and I'd discovered the problem.

So I did a 2nd batch for ME using Monkfruit sweetener instead.  I feel like I should have used Splenda as that has less carbs and might taste a little better.  Oh well.  NEXT time.

Not sure I like the taste of these either.  Pretty "coconut oil" flavored.  I might just use butter next time too as it's cheaper.  We'll see.

ALSO, I think I might remelt the first batch with sugar and get it fudgy before pouring into the molds.  I think Leon will appreciate them more.

He can make some cookies when he wakes up.  He said he was up until 2am and woke up ready to take on the world at 6am.  He crashed.  Even before the chocolate chips got done so it wasn't a sugar crash!

Anyone have a recipe for milk chocolate chips?  Those are his favorite chips and I'd like to attempt it.

I really do like Lily's chocolate chips but they're so pricey.  I was hoping to cut the costs a little. hmm.

Here's the original recipe I used.

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup coconut oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

Has anyone here tried making them before?  and/or a no-sugar type?

Slightly burned food cravings

 I have my church's women's Bible study tonight and it's a potluck beforehand.  I had to find a recipe that I could take that would be in my plan...  Google.  I found this.

Nutty Charred Broccoli

What is it with slightly burned food that attracts me so?!

Meri and I took Aggie on our morning walk today and since she hadn't eaten before we went, she pooped out after just a couple blocks.  So we turned around and went home and enjoyed our coffee there.

Jen had already left and I took Aggie down to her daycare, picking up a few groceries on the way back for the potluck.  And they do NOT have Stacy Hawkin spices or oils at Walmart, so I punted.

Don't these look yummy?!  I compared the nutritional facts and aren't too far off from what the recipe called for.

We will be fine!

Feeling a bit Halloweenish

 So the church game night party is this evening.  As soon as Leon heard the pastor announce it two weeks ago, he was all, "I'm GOING TO THAT!!!" because he'd be able to wear his new costume that his dad got him and he is very good friends with a little girl in Sunday school.

Back when "plague-wear" was much more interesting and fashionable.

He just needed a leather coat that hangs to his shoes.  Um, we couldn't find that this week but I did find Ryan's old Darth Vader cloak AND an adult sized costume from the Goodwill.

He also was spending this week at his moms.  I LOVE that he is begging to go to a church event, SO...  thanks to some extra driving today, tomorrow and Sunday, he'll be here tonight, his dad takes him back tomorrow and I'll pick him back up again on Sunday night after trick or treating with his siblings, where he has a totally different costume that his mom got him.

Did I ever mention how instrumental Robb was in all this chauffeuring business?  He was awesome. 

Here's what I made for my treats tonight AND it fits into my diet easily! Aren't they cute?

The little stems are pickle strips and the filling contains pumpkin puree and horseradish.  HERE's the recipe.

I did add a few drops of red and yellow food coloring to make it more orange.

Leon won't like them, but I know for a FACT that there will be other treats there.  He'll be fine.

And Maddy is coming down for the evening and staying overnight! 

Tomorrow, I'll be helping Meri take some fall pictures of one of her close friends, who is pregnant.  The theme is "pumpkins".

The spider webs are out in front of my house again this year and I JUST found the actual spiders for them.  But here they are without the spiders.

Ryan and Jen have a wedding to attend, but I will make chili and fresh bread for tomorrow night and Meri, Ryan (bf) and I will eat to our hearts content and hand out candy around the firepit out front.  I'll probably have some lights shining up on the spiders.  Not sure yet.  Depends on my mood tomorrow.

Note to self, buy candy tomorrow!

And during my free time today, I'll be making some adjustments to Meri and Ryan's costumes for some parties they're going to this weekend.

Have a wonderful Halloween!!!

Oatmeal Sugar Booger Bombs

 So I started a new diet plan where I have a granola bar every 2-3 hours or a meal.  I'm supposed to be drinking a gallon of water a day too, but I figured ZSDP (Zero Sugar Dr Pepper) is 90% water, right?!  

grumble grumble I drink water too, but not that much grumble grumble.

It's supposed to be a meal replacer too, but I eat my usual omelette for breakfast and then a sensible meal for supper.  And something half way healthy for lunch. Like leftover lasagna from the night before or something healthier like a salad.  If I feel like a snack I eat a homemade granola bomb.

Anyway, I've been dropping the weight! I know it's only been a week but I'm down 7 pounds.

Oh and I think this diet is pointing out that I'm full of s**t.

It's almost a joy to step on the scale each morning.  Let's see where we are today woman!!!

Yesterday I was at my first benchmark of the weight I was at at Maddy's wedding.  Now I'm a pound less!

My stash of bars in my fridge.

Oatmeal is your friend.  Here are the recipes.

Oh and what a surprise to see comments on my last several posts!  I don't get emails about them anymore. I figured everyone had abandoned me and I was writing for my own enjoyment these days.  And for my kids to laugh at me about.  I've been visiting some of your blogs lately and hope to more in the near future.  

Because today, there's a run on toilet paper.

Quarantine Day 9 (11?) All you never wanted to know

Thanks to all my faithful readers!  I take a break for months at a time and you guys KEEP coming back!!

I am blessed with the best imaginary friends ever!

JRE - my kids are so helpful!  There are just some things I don't let them touch. :)  If you ask my son, he'll say "I'm the backbone of this household!" Plus he found Robb's bagpipe sweatshirt yesterday!!!  Who knew Robb had hung it up?! a sweatshirt??
Sam - you are so faithful!  AND you're in the same part of the country as me!  Some day....  we're going to meet up for coffee. or a donut if I'm not dieting.
Michelle, Anne, Rachel, Practical Parsimony and others - so encouraging and caring!
I value every single one of you!

And Anne!!  This post is being created today because of your question about my canning equipment.

Robb gave me an electric canner for Valentines day, the day before he passed.  I started looking up recipes to try mid March to pass the time.  I had a lot of time and it kept me busy.  When we had the twins here, I needed something to do in the kitchen because I was on the main floor a LOT.

I joined some canning groups on Facebook and gradually settled on some Rebel Canning groups as they appeared to be less judgmental and I just didn't need people telling me what I can or can't do.  I'm being safe, but if you say that something is NOT safe because I don't add a teaspoon of salt to it or jump backwards 3 times before cranking the lid on like USDA says I should do, forget it.

My mom canned tomato sauce all my life living at home and if I had tomatoes that I wasn't sick of canning, I'd do it the way she always did.  According to these ladies though, they'd kick you out of their fruity little club if you so much as mention any process that doesn't coincide with their ideas of what's safe.  If you're one of these people, please don't be offended by my comments!  I can be snarky.

The Rebels are safe too, just not as preachy about it.  Cultures all over the world have waterbathed and pressure canned for generations before USDA came along with their notions.

SO anyway, enough on my soapbox.  ON TO what I do with my canner!!!

I loved my electric canner so much that when I saw another on sale, I got it.  Nesco and Carey are made by the same company now so it's virtually the same machine and same instructions.

 

The items on the left are my pressure cookers, NOT to be confused with pressure canners.  They prep my food, like making bone broth or cook food, but the pressure canners seal the deal.

One of my favorite things to make and was a huge hit for Christmas presents this year was pulled pork.  Maddy gave me the recipe for this one.  PULLED PORK RECIPE.

Sorry about the cat butt. Kevin!!!!

It was SO delish so I tried canning the end product.  I was convinced that it would probably end up really dry but I was really surprised and it was so good!  I even mailed a pint to my boss in Florida, who loves to eat every part of a pig, his words.  He sent me a picture of his plate with the pork on it and enjoyed it for a few meals!

Before

After

I guess he liked it!  I'll have to send him one every Christmas now.

So... make the pork loin recipe in the Instant Pot for 90 minutes as the recipe states.

THEN put it in jars, fill up to an inch headspace with leftover broth and pressure can for pints (75 minutes) or quarts (90 minutes).  These are the meat times.  If there is ANY kind of meat in a recipe, can for these times.

I cut up a corned beef and peeled and cut up some potatoes, then canned for those times and WOW the best corned beef hash I ever had!  Most expensive, but it was worth it.

Note to self: watch for corned beef on sale...

Other things I like to can a lot is bone broth, any type.  Right now I've got turkey bones making broth in the Instant Pot for 180 minutes.  I threw in the bones, a couple stalks of celery, some green onions, salt, pepper, a couple bullion cubes and a splash of apple cider vinegar. 

Then I'll strain it thru some kitchen towels and pour into jars, wipe some vinegar on the rims and can for pints (30 minutes), quarts (35 minutes).  

I reuse the lids and whatever jars I can get my hands on.  Until the lids are damaged, there is no reason not to reuse them.  They're pricey.  I'm pretty sure that's why some people say they're only a one time use item.  NOT ME!  Follow the money... Ball and other lid companies are making a killing... 

Something else that my kids appreciate (except Leon) is Burritos in a jar. A combination of dry beans, brown rice, cooked hamburger or raw chicken chunks, rotel, taco seasoning and broth to round it out, then canned.  Just heat up and serve on taco shells or tortillas.  Add your favorite taco toppings and voila, dinner is ready.  This is a main staple of our Taco Tuesday dinners.  All the kids come here for that.  Of course it's been on hold with the quarantine fiasco...  Can't wait to start it up again!

I'll post that recipe some other time or you can google it.  I have made adjustments to the recipe and left out the rice, increasing the meat.

I've also canned potatoes, carrots, pineapple, made my own maraschino cherries, rice, soups, stews and other things.

I got up early and got some stuff going before work today. 1) the turkey broth  2) made sugar free jello in half pint jars - stuck in fridge - just enjoyed one.  3) made Holiday in a jar. explained below.

It's my first time ever making this, so I'm sure I'll make adjustments next time.  I thawed a turkey over the last few days and last night cut as much meat off as possible and cut it into chunks and refrigerated until this morning.  I also baked the rest of the carcass and legs and wings for the rest of us for supper.

1) In a jar (either size), fill about half way with raw turkey chunks.

2) pour in some slightly watered down gravy and run a butter knife along the inside sides of the jar to work out any air bubbles in the meat section.  

3) add a layer of mashed potatoes that I made last night.  Or don't.  Your kitchen, your rules.

4) fill up the rest of the jar with stuffing.  I took a box mix and added 2 T melted butter and some hot water until it was JUST moist but not soupy.  Stuff the jar full to the 1 inch headspace.

5) wipe off rims with white vinegar on a paper towel and cap them.

6) pressure can for meat times. pint (75) quart (90)

This is how they came out.  I may decrease the amount of turkey next time.  Not sure.  We'll see if they seal properly.  If not, then we're having Christmas for dinner again tonight!!!

Anyway, that is my adventures in canning so far.  I've used my electric canner for steam bathing, which is basically the same thing as water bathing.  The instructions come with the canner.

If you are looking for a new hobby that will also benefit you in the long run. Get one of these!

Also I love being able to set it and after flipping the little dial to seal, I can forget about it for 90 minutes or more.  I don't need to babysit the stove and make sure the pressure is exactly right all the time.  It's all done for me.

So those were all the PROs.  Here is a some CONs.  (not many)

1) they only fit 4 quarts in each one OR 5 pints OR 7 half pints.  I have two so if I'm on a roll, I can fill them both up.  But still.  If I had a stove top one, I could probably do 30 at a shot.  Maybe not, but 4 seems like a low quantity.  For me, it's fine.  How ambitious am I going to be at 7am?

2) They will add to your appliance collection on the counter.  Eventually I'll get a cabinet to keep them in, but will they ever just go sit in it?  Probably not.

I think that's it.  They make it easy to can things.

And just to finish the post, a little funny for you.

:) but I'll wait to crack into these until I've reached my dieting goal. 

or given up. 

or am in a bad mood.

Setting Benchmarks

 I've only made yogurts since December for Jen.  She likes them for smoothies.  AND since they have 12 carbs per cup plus whatever sweetened condensed milk in it, that's just too many carbs for Robb and me...  We're trying to be as Keto as possible.

And I've been missing yogurt.  Robb and I used to enjoy a container of it some evenings for a treat.  So I've been doing research...  Robb says, "You don't have to go to all the trouble for me!  I'm perfectly happy just eating meats, cheeses and cauliflower!"

Yeah yeah yeah...  

Even though Almond milk has no carbs, it's just not an option because I've tried making yogurt with it before many and various ways and we're just NOT fans...  Plus it never gets past the thickness of soupy slop.

So I found that regular milk has the 12 carbs per cup.  Also found that Fairlife milk has 6 carbs per cup.  aha...  I think I found where to cut the carbs.  Oh and sweetened condensed milk can be replaced with artificial sweetener if you want...  We stir in a little after the fact.  I'll make the next batch with it mixed in and some vanilla.

Apparently Fairlife milk has filtered the milk out into it's basic parts and then puts it back together in various types of milk...  Fats, carbs, lactose, etc.  

This is not a commercial...  I actually wish they were paying me for this...  But they might not approve of what I say.  Fairlife is expensive and I've balked at buying it for a LONG time.  I have dredged ALL over the interweb to find a way to do it myself, but don't have the means to buy the big equipment for our house...  and we don't have a cow.  SO I finally broke down and bought a half gallon of the stuff.  It's expensive!  $3.12 for a half gallon and that would be over $6 for a gallon??  Regular old 2% at Aldi is less than $2.  Whole milk might be a little bit more.

But when a small container of low carb yogurt costs $1.50, what's $3.12 for a half gallon of milk??  That makes each little container (about 8 of them) around 39 cents per and less than 5 carbs per container.  I'll do it.

I've only got one Instant Pot (and it's actually an off brand) that has a yogurt button on it.  Heretofore referred to as the IP.

I rinsed out the pot with super hot water and then dumped in the milk and 2 tablespoons of previous made whey.  Whisked well.  Covered the pot with a couple paper towels and the lid to hold it down.  Pushed the yogurt button for 12 hours and the next morning at 11 hours, I checked it.

Everyone on my FB IP yogurt groups keep talking about the "spoon test" and I thought yeah yeah yeah.  But wow.  This yogurt was SO much thicker and creamier than the boil method...  The spoon really stood upright without wavering one way or another...  Plus I didn't have to drain the whey off at ALL!

Sigh.  I'm a convert.  But I'll still do the boil method with regular old milk for Jen.  She likes it. and it's cheaper for me to make that...  But for Robb and me, I'm so doing this from now on.

Above, my legs this morning.  Wearing jeans that used to be way to small for me but I hung onto them just in case I lost weight.  And now I may need a belt for them.  I also have some jeans from college days and if I ever get back into them I will restart the button fly trend again.  Oh yes I will!

Oh!!!! My weight is down 15 pounds since what it was at Maddy's wedding!!  That is my benchmark. 

Chaffle Making at my house!

 I actually tried something TOTALLY different today!  I made a Chaffle!

What that??!!!  Well, let me tell you...  A reason to not pitch the waffle iron!

For a measly 1 or 2 carbs, you've got a big poofy piece of bread that you can use for a sandwich!  Found this on wholesomeyum.com.  They've got lots of sweet things to do with chaffles as well as make it for a pizza crust!  I might try that tomorrow night.

Basic Chaffle Recipe for Sandwiches 

1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese shredded
1 large egg
2 tbsp almond flour or 2 tsp coconut flour
1/2 tsp Psyllium husk powder
1/4 tsp baking powder

Mix all together, really well and dump it onto an already preheated waffle iron.  Spread it around with a spoon and then close up the waffle iron and let it cook until the steam stops or the light comes on that it's done.  

Bam!  You got bread.

I piled some mayo and pepperonis on it and made a sandwich for lunch.  I need to make more of these...

Val Treats

 I actually worked out this morning!  It's been several days...  Probably the day before Thanksgiving.  I only walked .3 miles on the treadmill as Meri skipped the walking portion entirely.  We'll be back in the swing of things by tomorrow.

Last week I made SUPER thick plain yogurt.  It made a great base to add a packet of onion soup mix to for chip dip over the weekend. Thus my extra 4 pounds...  Well, that wasn't the only reason I guess.

I intended to use it for lots of things but didn't.  So now I have 2.5 cottage cheese sized containers of the stuff waiting to be used.  I'll be creative...

Today I put about a cups worth in a mug and then added one of those packets of sugar free pink lemonade powder that you'd normally add to a bottle of water.  It is totally delicious!!!  I have found my new sugar free treat!

Maddy called me last night and gave me the measurements for Zola.  Zola is an odd shaped tiny wiener of a dog.  

I had found a diy dog coat pattern online that is totally based off the measurements of your dog. The 1st measurements Maddy gave me a few weeks ago, looked REALLY odd when I drew them out on paper.  

That didn't look right...  As it stands, the new measurements are 3 inches shorter than this length. If I can figure this out, then I'll make one for Daisy too.

New developments on my MIL, so I'm getting busy getting the house ready for her homecoming.

Life is a rush...

Where's my yogurt?

Buffering

Whew.  I packed a lot into the weekend...

When don't I? 

I was getting sick of just pony tails AND having my hair make the back of my neck sweat.

So french braid it was for the day. 

On Saturday, I purchased the materials to finish the deck.  Did I rebuild the deck? no.

But the materials are sitting in the back of Meri's old pick up until my BIL comes tomorrow to haul the truck away.

I guess I better move them again today...

Also on Saturday, I got a batch of yogurt going.

Also on Saturday, I pulled out my weed trimmer and the two 100 foot extension cords I gave Robb for our anniversary... *aren't I romantical??* and was able to reach clear to the back fence with them.  I went down one side of the fence on the south side of the yard and then back up the other side of same fence.

Aside from the really tall grass that wove itself into the fence, it looks really nice.

Maybe I'll get to the other fence by next weekend. 

Maybe not.

I also found an older electric trimmer in my garage!  I must have bought it a previous year and got the plastic wire all messed up.  I'll see if I can fix that and let Meri use it on her yard...

Since I was on a roll, I also trimmed up a bunch of weeds back in the woods until the little plastic wire on the trimmer snapped off due to a tree trunk I accidentally smacked with it.  I'd fixed it so many times, that I gave up and went and exchanged it for the electric chain saw.  

Chopped down many little trees that were growing through the fence, keeping us from being able to open the gate.  Well the gate is now open but being blocked by a felled tree that is still attached to the trunk...  The chain fell off the chain saw because of my stupidity getting too close to the dirt and angling things.

And the tree wouldn't break off...  darn.

So I figured that was God telling me to go in the house and relax the rest of the day.

I put everything away and went in.  Who was I to argue with God?

Leon got me signed up for Roblox and I stumbled around in the app for a while wondering what the heck I was doing.  Apparently your character has to die in order to gain materials for Leon's character...  ummmm... this is a sucky game.

Then with some time left until supper, I harvested a bunch of rhubarb and made rhubarb chutney, a savory, sweet, oniony sauce.  Oh yummmmm  It's even great in yogurt!

But I put it on my pulled pork sandwich that night and wow.  It was good!

I KIND of followed a recipe and here is my rendition.

RHUBARB CHUTNEY

Pulled out the food processor and chopped up half a left over onion from the fridge.  It was just a normal yellow onion.

Cleaned and hand chopped up the rhubarb into little chunks to fill 4 cups.

The rest went into the freezer in 2 cup baggies.

THEN in a sauce pan...

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion minced as above

1 dash salt

4 cups chopped rhubarb

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 cup dried cranberries like craisins

1 or 2 cinnamon sticks

directions:

Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium head.  Cook onion until softened.  5-6 minutes.

add salt.

Stir the rest of the ingredients in and cook, stirring occasionally until rhubarb softens and begins to break down.  6-8 minutes.

Discard cinnamon stick before serving.

Store in the fridge until someone eats it all.  It does freeze well too.

I also made homemade pesto with the basil from my herb garden.  It looks like the basil had a bad hair cut...  Eh - it's 2020...  EVERYONE has a bad hair cut right now!  

There has GOT to be a quicker way to trim off the basil leaves...

I'll google it...

HOMEMADE PESTO

2 packed cups of basil leaves - previously washed and patted dry

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 cup walnuts as I don't have pine nuts

salt

Put in the food processor and pulverize it.

I lined an ice cube tray with plastic wrap and put little dollops of the pesto into each little cube.  Then covered with more plastic wrap and froze it.  

When you're ready to use it, thaw and add parmesan.  I guess there is no reason not to add the parmesan ahead of time.  I'll do that next time I make it.

Robb and I got to DUO with Maddy for a while on Saturday as well!  I cannot WAIT for this Covid stuff to go away so we can see them again and meet their two crazy dogs!

I miss them so much.

After supper, I binged watched several episodes of Lark Rise to Candleford on Hulu.

I love it!

It's basically Little House on the Prairie in England.

And I love the fact that all my favorite BBC actors are in it!  The mom of Rose on Dr. Who, Dawn French from Vicar of Dibley, the guy that looks just like Hugo from Vicar of Dibley also, but I found out is actually not.  I've seen Laura in something else, but couldn't find it on IMDB, Yeah, her name on the show is actually Laura...  and her Pa and Queenie has been in a ton of stuff I've watched too. I think Death in Paradise for the dad... 

Mrs. Cropley from Vicar of Dibley is in it too!  

I know... I just keep name dropping from shows you've never watched and you have no idea who these people are, but oh well... 

I suckered Robb into watching the first episode with me last night.  It'll be our together show now until he gets sick of it.  I don't think he will...  And I don't mind rewatching the first few episodes.  If he does quit, I'll continue on with it.  There are 4 seasons, so we'll be set for a while.

Sunday, after church, I went to see Ada in a light sprinkling of rain.  Can't wait until the nursing home opens up, but I guess for now, we're just happy that she's going to finally get a hair cut next week!  after waiting three months...

I went home and it was chill outside, so I called Meri and asked her if she'd like a smallish pan of tortellini with pesto that I was planning on making for supper.  Um yes.

So I made a big pan for us and a smaller one for her and Shub.

CHICKEN TORTELLINI with PESTO

Here's the recipe that I made into my own, since it was loosely followed...

3 packages of tomato, basil tortellini from Aldi - the dried kind.

A few handfuls of the pulled pork leftover from the previous dinner - About 2-3 cups worth

you can use chicken or no meat if you want.

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 green pepper, seeded and chopped

1/2 onion (minced in food processor again) (that way the onion doesn't make your eyes hurt!)

6 ounce jar of tomato pesto from Aldi and 4 ice cube tray lumps of homemade green pesto

3-4 cups chicken broth.  I used homemade bone broth from October.

1/2 cup milk

1/2 jar of leftover Aldi Alfredo sauce

a dollop or two of sour cream

2 cups shredded cheese to top

salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Put butter in medium size skillet and medium heat.

Add onions and green pepper and cook until soft.  About 4 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl, add the onion mixture, pesto, broth, milk, alfredo sauce, sour cream and salt and pepper.  

Whisk well.

Put tortellini pieces into a large greased baking dish. 

Pour mixture over the tortellini and stir around.

Cover pan with foil.

Bake with foil on for 20 minutes, then with foil off, stir the tortellini around to make sure all is covered with sauce, top with cheese, then bake for another 20 minutes until the cheese is bubbly.

Enjoy!

Meri and Shub came over to get the pan I made for them and I was draining the vanilla yogurt that I'd also made on Saturday.  Shub had a taste and really liked it!  So I sent back a container of it just for him.  He also wanted me to give the recipe for it to Meri so she could make some too.  So I sent her the link also.  He also tried the chutney with it and liked that too.  

I guess he just likes food!

And Meri is going to be busy making all these things for him.

This morning, since the grass was nice and wet from the rains we've been getting, I logged over 1700 steps this morning spreading Scotts lawn weed and feed stuff all over the yard.  

Dandelions and the clover are TOAST, I tell you!

and possibly my tennis shoes.  They were drenched and so were my socks.

Oh well, need to have a nice looking lawn!

And it's not supposed to rain for the next few days, so the timing is good.

At least I HOPE the weather man hasn't lied again, like he did on Saturday!

I think the week days are made for me to rest up for the next weekend.

So I'm buffering here and gearing up for the next two days to work my little heart out!

Have a wonderful week!

Once and Future projects

So the other day, I made the "infamous" whipped coffee.  I was so convinced that it was going to change my life and all my closets would get cleaned up and maybe if I drank enough, the garage.

The only thing I can say is, eh - iced coffee...  and (ok 2 things) I must be broken because I didn't do more than I usually do in a day.  and (ok 3 things) I think I overheated the motor in Jen's hand held immersion mixer.  The handle was smokin hot.  So I stopped before it whipped up as much as on the internet.  Threw it in the blender to finish it up.  It's harder to get every bit out but oh well.

It had kind of a coffee meringue consistency...  

I only used half of it as I didn't want to have a heart attack.

Here's the recipe in case you ever want to try it.

2 tablespoons instant coffee

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons boiling water

Whip it by hand, with a mixer or an immersion blender for a LONG time.  Some said for 20 minutes, others said 5.  

Then fill a glass half way with ice cubes and then with milk.  Put the coffee froth/meringue on top and drink the milk thru the froth.

I was getting too much coffee meringue on my upper lip, so I stirred it in.

Again, eh.  Not worth the hype.  Unless I totally did it wrong. 

How are you all doing making face masks?  After making roughly 40 and finding out that hospitals want a different type of mask or when the hospitals wash them in boiling water for extended periods of time, they will fall apart because I used poly thread...  I hadn't given them to a hospital yet so at least it wasn't MINE that fell apart...

So I'm done.

For 2 reasons.  I don't have just cotton thread and I'm out of elastic.  AND because (ok 3 reasons) my family and friends have enough now to hold them *hopefully* thru this period of Covid yuck.

I mailed off a couple packages of the DON'T BOIL ME masks yesterday so unless this drags out and my masks fall apart, I won't be making more for the next week or two.   

I'm actually so excited to sew something for myself that I don't know where to begin!!!

Do I finish the hem on the last shirt that I was making? 

Do I sew a few potato bags because I'm going to grow potatoes this year?

Do I start a new pattern?  

I just don't know!!!!

THEN I saw this...

But not only am I out of elastic, we're out of bacon too.

Darn.

Post Easter Tuesday

If you're staying away from eggs these days, close your eyes.

But this is a breakfast that I wait all year long for.  The unlimited egg salad bagels, the week after Easter!

Here's my recipe.  It's not fancy, so don't mock me! nor criticize the amount of cholesterol I'm eating...

Easter eggs - 3 - peeled, rinsed and run thru the egg slicer in two different directions.

Mix a couple globs (probably 1/4 cups) of Miracle Whip or equivalent. NOT MAYO! and a good squirt (probably a tablespoon) of spicy brown mustard.  I couldn't find the horseradish or I'd add a tiny bit of that too.

Add to chopped up eggs and mix well.

While you're doing this, you should have already popped both halves of a plain bagel into the toaster.

Then scoop the egg mixture onto the bagel as you eat.  Sometimes you end up with more egg mixture, sometimes more bagel, but improvise and finish it all.

YUM...

Also, we picked up Leon's school books yesterday from his teacher in the parking lot.  He will have assignments and other things to do to fill his day this week.  WOOHOO!!!  

(Yesterday, he and I sewed together a FortNite ghost plushy.  At this rate his room will be too full of plushies to find his bed...)

So with the books, came about 7 different apps or websites to get into for him to be able to access Epic, Prodigy, etc.  He was so excited, until we couldn't find the right app or other things popped up for him to have to do. UGGGG, I have to eat supper???!!

We'd get an app to work once, but then when he went back into it, he didn't find the right thing. 

*WHAT are you doing in Samsung and Google settings?!!!*

So this morning before he comes down. Yeah - it's 8:30 and he's still sleeping.  He's staying up as late as summer during this Covid thing...  

Correction - he JUST came down.  and he's thrilled!! 

I spent an hour this morning getting all the apps set up and he's able to get into everything now.  repeatedly. yay!

So... ON to the day!  May it be a great one!

Is it Saturday yet?

Ah Spring break!  The days when the kiddies are home and you can do fun stuff!

Well, in an alternate universe maybe...

The weather was great on Tuesday, so instead of doing the bagpipe pub crawl (cancelled) Leon and I walked to the park and he read his Essential Pokemon Handbook.  I sat below and heard him call out that he'd seen a Meekui or Zambalam Pokemon or some such thing.  The names of them are silly... ;)

He said a Reiku was right behind me, but there was nothing there. Apparently I can't see them.

He ran around and chased an imaginary Pokemon, tripped and fell on the railroad ties bordering the play area.  He's got a nasty bruise on one leg now and a slightly larger tear in the sweatpants I made him a while back. We sat for a while until he felt better then walked home.

The next day, we'd planned on going to the zoo (cancelled due the COVID19 and rain).  It was cold!

So instead of a walk, Leon and I sat on in the car for a while with our umbrellas. (We had had ambition to walk in the rain anyway, but the temp had dropped and as I mentioned, it was cold! so we climbed into the car and he continued to climb all over it, opening the hatch and watching the rain.)

Then we went to the side porch and he read to me the various types of Pokemon from his book and he picked out a legendary Pokemon just for me.  I feel so honored.

All the rest of my three days off were jam packed with cleaning, sewing, errands, etc.  

The etcetera part about killed me.  Robb's closet looks mostly swell now and he'll be able to find his shirts easier.

On Friday, a neighbor friend posted that during this time of social distancing, it would be nice to know that neighbors are still ok and kicking.  So at 6pm, she scheduled a neighborhood musical noise party.  Meri and Shub came over and from our driveway, we played Maddy's old bells (xylophone), the snare drum, Meri's old clarinet and shouted a lot.  Some neighbors played instruments from the end of their driveways and some cruised the loop honking and waving out windows.  

Meri, Shub and Leon did that for a while too after Leon got sick of pounding on our drum.

On Saturday, I did a wee bit of sewing.  Feeling like I needed to sew something productive, rather than just clothes for me...  I saw an email from our sewing group leader with links on how to make face masks, as hospitals are in need of washable types.  So I whipped up a few and showed them to my sewing group online.  By the way, Leon wanted his own, even tho he's NOT sick, he just wants to feel like a doctor...

The post drew lots of comments about calling hospitals and finding out exactly what they wanted, even tho the link showed what this one particular hospital needed and what I'd made.  I guess each hospital has their own needs/wants.  It killed my mood for a while so I worked on cleaning another closet.  Maybe by next weekend, I'll get back into it.  From what I've heard, JoAnns has put together face mask kits and they'll give them to you at their front door to put together for free.  Then deliver back to them and they'll take them to the hospitals that want them.

Cool!  I might do that.

On Saturday afternoon, Meri, Shub and I headed to Menards and picked up supplies for her to paint her main floor of her house and replace the kitchen carpeting with square linoleum tiles.  She's ready and raring to get going on it!  Her daycare closed for 3 weeks on Friday and she is using this time to do the updating.  More power to her!  Good thing too, as of this morning, she found a wee bit of black mold behind a cabinet that had to be moved out!

We've talked to Maddy and Matthew a lot more lately and it's been fun!  However we need to figure out a more comfortable seating arrangement for our DUO calls.  The arm rest of Robb's chair is really uncomfortable...

Maddy has been preparing to teach her kindergartners from afar and has posted a lot of videos of herself reading books as well as some lessons for them onto Youtube.  I won't post them here for reasons.  I've been enjoying the stories too!

Since church is cancelled because of the virus, Robb is recording our pastors sermons and posting them on our church website for the congregation to watch remotely.

We watched the sermon on youtube from home early on Sunday.

It's weird to go to church directly from bed...

Also on Sunday, it was Robb's birthday!  For almost 4 months I'll be married to an old man.

A while back Robb saw this recipe and said, hmmm, make this for my birthday!  So I did.

I should have started earlier in the day, because at 10pm, the recipe was at the point where you were supposed to let it cool to room temperature and I was tired and stuck it right in the fridge...

I made Peach Cobbler Cheese Cake

Below is my version.  The only difference besides just sticking the thing into the fridge was that the peaches were from frozen.  No one had fresh peaches on Saturday!

No matter. It turned out really good!  We still have half left in the fridge.

I broiled steaks for Robb's birthday dinner and also gave one of Robb's gifts to him early.  I got him two George Foreman grills, one family sized.  Not big enough for eight people sized, but Ryan and Jen wanted their steaks done rare, so they did their own on the new grill.  And Robb can take the 2nd one to the office for quick meals there as his old one was kicking off too much Teflon...

It was a nice dinner!  We played some Chameleon afterwards and then talked for a while until Meri, Shub, Ryan and Jen went over to Meri's house for some gaming late into the night.

I met up with her this morning (not TOO early) for Pilates.   I really need to invest in some yoga mats because her floors are hard...  And the planking?  Not gonna happen...  The rest of the work out is killer enough.  

Well, that was my weekend.

I'm back to work today but ready for another weekend any time now.

:)

Instant Pot Yogurt using Boil Method recipe

I realized the other day that I hadn't shared my boil method yogurt on here yet!  It's for people that want to make their own yogurt but don't want to spend the big bucks on ultra pasteurized/ultra filtered milk.  (that's the cold start method.  google it if you want)

And that's me.

Plus my Instant Pot doesn't have a yogurt button, so there's that.

It's for people who want to increase their protein intake and yet make yogurt as cheaply as possible.

And that's me.

Don't be discouraged by the little black bits in my yogurt.  Those are Chia seeds and I like them as an addition to the yogurt.  And as one daughter told me, "it'll make you poop."

Boil Method Yogurt

by the gallon...

Ingredients:

1 gallon whole milk. tip later.

4 Tbs yogurt with live cultures. tip on this later.

2 cans of sweetened condensed milk (but I have a tip for that below) (and optional)

  (or Splenda if your family likes it - some of my family don't, so I don't make it with that.)

  (or don't use sweetener at all and add fruit when you serve.)

(or don't use any sweetener or vanilla and make plain!)

3 Tbs Vanilla flavoring (optional)

If you're using frozen whey, get it out first and set it in a small bowl inside a bowl with warm water to melt it down.  NOT any hotter than 115 degree water.

Some people say to sterilize your IP pot, but really if you've washed it with soap and water and given it a good hot rinse, you're fine.

This isn't rocket science.

Only put the milk into your Instant Pot.  Have a good thermometer handy.  

Push the Saute button.

Check the temp every 5 minutes or so.  When it reaches 170 degrees, start watching it sooner.  

180 degrees is the magic number.  It'll take not quite 30 minutes.

Once it hits 180, hit the off button on the machine and set your oven time to 5 minutes.  

Let it sit for the 5 minutes.

The temp will fluctuate a little higher than 180 and that's ok. Just let it sit.

While it's sitting, fill one of your sinks with cold water and dump a bunch of ice cubes into it.

When the 5 minutes is up, remove the IP liner with the milk in it and set it in the sink of ice cold water.  

Skim off any milk deposits that have risen to the top and stir.  

Careful not to scrape the bottom of the pot.

At this point, you can add the SCM or equivalent.

Every time you stir, check the temp.  The temp will drop fast.  Sometimes it drops 10 degrees with each stir.  

The magic number NOW is 115.  If you're within 4-5 degrees of that, pull it out of the water and wipe off the outside of the pot. 

Put the pot back into the IP.

Add the yogurt/whey starter (4 Tbl) and the vanilla.  I mix those two together ahead of time.

Stir or whisk til mixed well. don't scrape the bottom.

Put the IP lid on and I usually close the vent thingy.

The IP should NOT be on.

Wrap it up with a fleece blanket or two towels.

It'll be done after 8-12 hours depending on your schedule.  Don't leave it past 12 hours.

DONE INCUBATING

Once it's done incubating, pull the liner pot out of the IP, put a plate or lid on top and place in the fridge for 4 hours or overnight to completely chill it down.

DON'T STIR IT!  The yogurt is very fragile at this point.

After it's done chilling, you can scoop it into containers with tight lids and place right in the fridge for use OR to drain off the whey and make it thicker, spoon it into a towel lined colander and place it in the fridge.  Let it strain.  I sometimes forget about it until the next day.  And that's ok.  

I usually strain about a quart of whey off each gallon.

If you don't strain the yogurt and later come get a container with the whey separated, don't worry.  Either pour it off or mix it back in.

If you've made it with no sweeteners or vanilla, you can use it in place of sour cream or cream cheese.  Depending on how thick you let it drain.

If it's TOO thick, add some whey back into it and stir to the right consistency.

At this point, you can put it in easy serving sized containers, or empty cottage cheese containers, or glass jars.  Keep in fridge for up to two weeks, but I'll bet it won't last that long.

Mine never does.  Everyone eats it way before then.

So I make it about once a week.

TIPS...

Milk tip - 

You can use whatever milk you want to use.  It can be whole milk all the way down to skim.  the difference will be texture and how much whey you'll produce...  

(And I've got tips for the whey too! :)

Yogurt starter tip - 

It must be yogurt with live cultures.  Some will insist on Fage yogurt, but if you're spending that much money for a starter, cripes...  Just check the label for live cultures.  After you start producing whey from draining the yogurt, you can use 4 tablespoons of that per gallon.  I freeze it in ice cube trays for future use as soon as I get some strained out.  Fresh whey frozen immediately is best.

OR you can use 4 tablespoons of the yogurt you make for the next batch... If your family hasn't eaten it all.  That's the problem in my family...  So I make sure I freeze the whey.

Sweetened Condensed Milk tip

Instead of two cans of SCM (sweetened condensed milk) I put one can of evaporated milk in a sauce pan along with 1.5 cups of sugar.  You can experiment and use less sugar if you want.

Heat it up until the sugar dissolves into the milk.  Then turn off the heat and let it set until you're ready for it.  It keeps well in the fridge if you don't need it all right away.

Whey usage tips

In addition to saving the whey in ice cube trays, I've done the following with success.

Our Golden Retrievers love it!  I don't give them more than 1/4 cup each at a time tho.

Replaced the water in a bread machine bread with whey!  JUST did this successfully yesterday and it was really good!  I used this recipe. HERE

Only substituting the water with whey and adding 1.5 teaspoons salt instead of 1.

I've used the whey along with broth when making soup.

Instead of water or milk when making an omelet.

Any time you need extra liquid in a dish that you're making, add it.

The extra protein is great!

Additions tip- 

Once the yogurt is put into smaller containers for easy access, you can add sweeteners or fruit or whatever you want to it for serving.  

I sometimes put my cup of yogurt in a bowl and pour any cereal over the top of it for breakfast.  Granola is delish, but so is Cinnamon Toast Squares.

And of course if you need to poop, use Chia seeds!