Food, Hair, and School Update- Mobile Style

HEYYYYY! I've been kinda busy lately. I've been itching to blog about food because I've been trying out some really cool recipes. But I don't have time. Unless you want photos from my camera phone and I post recipes with them? Let me know if you want the recipes or a link to where the recipe can be found and I'll be more than happy to share!

Anyway, I just wanted to share that I am currently FIFTY FIVE credits away from graduation!!!!!! I am not sure how long it will take me, but I am happy to have a concrete number. As far as my classes now, I have a test tonight, and a midterm next week. Why the hell am I here? Because I am sharing an update with you all(procrastinating). You've been very kind and supportive of my journey. I try not to talk about it too much, because talking about any one subject all the time gets tiresome....though I don't know when to shut up about food.

My hair? So far no breakage. I started doing twist outs,  then I put mini(and mean mini) pineapples in at night as they were quicker than twisting and  it stretched my hair way better. Then I just got really busy and I do wash and gos every.single.day. lol. I am def going to need a trim soon!

                                 Ordered this from target! LOVE THEM!

Next Day after using the Keratin Deep Condition

I wash and go every damn day. So shiny and crazy!

OK can't post a blog without photos!

Food from my mobile. I cook breakfast almost everyday. I also prepare dinner earlier in the day so my husband can finish it when he comes home. That way he and the kids have fresh homemade dinners every day. My husband is also eating less carbs so we're trying a variety of new dishes with less carbs.
                                 Avocado Egg Cups

                                 
                                 Mini Frittata

                                 Avocado Egg Cups with Chorizo

                                 Avocado Egg Cups with Chorizo and Homemade Salsa

Cowboy Breakfast for my man, Bison Steaks and Eggs

                                  My little man helping make Almond Flour pancakes

                                 My son's favorite burger- Beef and mushroom burgers

I've made some great waffles but I have to say, Yeast Waffles are the BEST!!!

                                 Yeast pancakes!! Just in case you don't have a waffle iron

                                 Gluten Free Coconut-Blueberry Waffles

                                 Bacon, Egg, Toast cups

                                 Egg, Bacon, (McMom)Muffin

Gluten Free Almond Pancakes! Great but a bit eggy tasting but the family loved them. Will def experiment with this

I just want to thank you all for the support. I rarely lookk at blog stats, and being a wishy washy blogger I always expect to see maybe 10 views maybe even 25 at the most on my post, but it seems like you still kinda care. Thank you! I will try to keep up with any blog. Y'all know you will see at least 10 in a night. 

More Randomness Confessions with Less Nipplage

• I think that the military should fund spouses sex toys and/or batteries for such devices. Ok, before you unfollow me or quickly exit this post, hear me out. Yeah, we miss our husbands or wives for their sheer presence, hugs, helping with kid, etcs...but also making love is a big deal. I know I am a much happier person when I've had a big dose oh my hunk of man. What do you think? Ok, maybe not, but I am writing my congressman to see what happens....

• To make housecleaning a bit more interesting, I tap my inner Freddie Mercury and housework becomes more fabulous, sexy, and flamboyant. One of my faves are "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen. My children are BIG Queen fans now. We sang "We Are the Champions" at the top of our lungs while shopping yesterday. It was awesome.

• "Come on Mama, when are you going to post an actual recipe?" That will be covered here I promise. As you all may, or may not know, my husband is away doing the military thang. I have been cooking like crazy still, some of you may know this from my Facebook Page. I use it as yet another outlet to talk as much as I want about food. My friends who know me personally know I don't really talk about food openly on FB, because I don't want to come off as being snobbish or bragging. Yeah, that's weird, I figure on Twitter I can do it because most of my 'followers' love food. And my friends who fanned my page of Facebook know I love to cook, and don't mind the posts. Yes, I am a paranoid weirdo. Most the recipes are my own creation that I am aiming to perfect for you all to read and maybe even try.

•  I made this Saturday evening from basically boiling Italian sausage for 10 minutes just before it's cooked through then sliced.  Then sauteed sausage. Add a little red wine to the pan, then make sauce using  tomato puree and sun-dried tomatoes, fennel seeds,  thyme, oregano lots of garlic, lil chili powder and a lil pasta water. Add sausages, then linguine, and add loads of cheese, I used Pecorino Romano. I made a small amount of tomato sauce as my son does not like red sauces with pasta, but  even HE enjoyed this. So I am quite proud. This is inspired from reading an Italian Sausage burger with Sun-dried tomato pesto that read from Food and Wine. 

• When I blog, I have to listen to this song. Not sure why. It keeps me focussed and I type the beat while be-bopping my head like a spastic woodpecker. Yes, I am black, and don't have much rhythm. Myth busted!

• So, I've been cooking like mad, but haven't posted recipes. For me it's harder. My husband usually takes care of the children while I blog. Because usually when I blog food recipes I must be in a zone and focussed. Plus, I know a recipe is really good from my husband. Children are so fickle about things, so when all 3 enjoy a recipe I usually post about it. So lately I've been typing thoughts, inspirations and aspirations. My husband will be home in 2 weeks, so after that time, be prepared for  at least 4 recipes a week again!

• I am a very open person. I say outrageous things.

Ghosts of Thanksgiving Past

Is it me or is Thanksgiving Dinner the "What I've learned about cooking this year' test? If so, I've failed. Miserably. I am sure I am the only one who feels its a test because the menu is large, expectations are high, and hell, it's Thanksgiving the most important cooking day for us Americans!

 I've been cooking Thanksgiving dinner for my own little family for 4 years now. I remember the first time I was so nervous! I even wrote down emergency Turkey day phone numbers! We cleared our fridge, and made sure we had enough room for the mass amounts of food thawing and eventually leftovers. The meal was only for me, my husband, and 2 little ones (at the time was 2 months old and 2 years old). I baked all the pies in advance and cooked everything else the day of. I took A LOT of shortcuts. My focus mainly was having a juicy turkey and not those dry turkeys you usually have. Having such a small oven, I only roasted the breast. I also roasted it in those bags. I really didn't want a dry turkey!

That year I made:

Roast Turkey breast

Glazed Spiral Ham

Stove-top Stuffing

Canned Collard Greens

Hawaiian Sweet Rolls

Mashed Potatoes (from scratch)

Macaroni and Cheese (from scratch)

Canned Cranberry Sauce

Sweet Potato and Pecan Pie (with store bought crusts and homemade fillings)

Candied Yams with Marshmallows and Pineapple

My really lowcut housewife dress, husband, and then 2 y/o and 2 month old 

FOOD

Though I did take a lot of shortcuts, it was all delicious and made with love. It was also the least stressful Thanksgiving I've ever had!

My second home cooked Thanksgiving took place on my birthday. Great day, yeah? Er no. I broke our 'good' plates, our landlord cut off the hot water and oh yeah I was 5 months pregnant cooking up a mostly from scratch Turkey day menu. Stressed out? HELL YEA I was. I planned everything so it would be easy for my pregnant self, but it all backfired from the time hot water went out. Luckily I cooked a lot of food in advance! All that was left to do was assemble salads, make toppings, Turkey (bagless yet VERY MOIST!) gravy and veggie sides. Sounds easy, but my small kitchen, small oven, not hot water, 5 inch heel wearing when I am already 6'2 AND pregnant did not make it easy. I was so stressed by the end of it all that could not eat. I cried actually. I got over it, and happily ate leftovers for days afterwards.

The menu that year was....

Roasted Herbed Turkey with Mushroom Gravy

Roasted Broccoli and Tomatoes

Stuffing- homemade!

Hawaiian rolls

Green Bean Casserole

Apple Salad

Mashed Potatoes

Sweet Potato Pie with Marshmallow Meringue Topping

Pecan Pie

Five months pregnant with my 3rd. I hated that stupid roof. I slanted down and me feel even more like a giant. 

Now last year. Last year was uber stressful. We were going through so much personally and financially (always around the holidays!!!) that Thanksgiving almost never happened. I had a huge breakdown, a lot of tears were shed. That was probably one of the toughest times in our marriage. So bad that I refused to cook the day of. Even after I prepped a lot through the week. Sigh. In fact, I did not cook on Thanksgiving.  My husband scraped up every piece of cash we had and went to the commissary and bought all the food from my mass amount of lists. How could I let him down? I cooked my ass off even brined my turkey for the first with excellent results. 

My menu 

Bacon Wrapped Turkey

Homemade Stuffing - same as previous year

Green Bean Casserole- same as previous year

Macaroni and cheese

Candied Baby Carrots- boiled in 7up!

Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Pecan and Pineapples

Sweet Potato Pie with marshmallow meringue

Pecan Tart

Day after Turkey Day

This year, I plan and hope to plan, plan, plan a lot better. This time of year I have my holiday notebook. I write in detail every single thing we're doing it. It's much more detailed at Christmas time, and I plan to do the same with Thanksgiving. Especially as my husband comes back the week of Thanksgiving. So I must be prepared! I've made my menu and I am hoping for the best. It's a mix of our favorites, and new dishes! Here's that menu.

Deep Fried Turkey---Heard nothing but raves. Plan B. If there is a problem I will cut up the Turkey and grill. Gotta have a plan b!

Cornbread Stuffing with Sausage- Who doesn't love pork and cornbread?

Green Bean Casserole- I am putting my own spin on my husband's favorite Turkey Day side dishes from the past 2 years. 

Macaroni and Cheese with Topping- Deliciousness we ate this summer must be incorporated in our menu

Cranberry Chutney- I made my own cranberry sauce for the first time last Christmas. I've always loved canned, but fresh is best!!!

Mashed Sweet Potato with topping- I love sweet potatoes

Sweet Potato Rolls- I love sweet potatoes and bread together hehe

 Pecan Pie- with a lil this and that

And something special with pumpkin!

I sort of left out some details, because I want it to be a surprise. Plus I am even more nervous after revealing my plans. This dinner, again, is for me and my family. I just go all out for my babies :) 

Also, the great news is my husband will be home with us until March after he comes home in 3 weeks! But that also means he will be away until September. But I am happy he won't be leaving so soon!!

When I am sad I need Bacon.

I hate TDYs. Duh, what spouse wants their other half gone for long periods of time....I know.

Right before these 'business trips', I cry randomly. I feel so depressed that I get incredibly lazy and immobile all of the sudden and it sucks. The good thing for great blogs that I follow is that I am able to read through all your blogs and leave blog post length comments (sorry!). The bad news for me is that I think a certain "Osama Bed Linen"  is hiding in the ever so growing mountains of dirty laundry in my laundry room!! And all of this is right before my husband leaves. 

But you know what dear readers and friends, I usually get through it alive and well. Well, I have to. When he's out the door, reality bitch-slaps me in the face and I have no choice but to get to work! A better schedule is set for the children (and my sanity),even more time is spent at playgrounds and indoor parks, and my cooking creativity goes through the roof! I focus even more on the children's palates which is most certainly a challenge, but it helps me learn new ways to get them to eat a lot healthier. 

My husband's been deployed for weeks and months at a time many times before, but this time, I do not feel so confident. I am utterly terrified. I have been quite depressed for the past 2 weeks, trying to stay brave, but everything brings tears to my eyes. Is that pathetic? Maybe. Normal? I'd like to think so. During the last big deployment, I only had 2 children who were 2, and an infant, and I was terrified then. Fortunately I made it out a stronger person. This time I have 3 children who are 5, 3, and 1! Will I make it out at least alive? Hopefully! If I don't blog or update my Facebook page call me! 

So during times pathetic pessimism (try saying that Sylvester the cat!), I desperately need comfort food. My comfort food of choice tonight? Bacon. Bacon Pancakes to be precise! These are so simple and crazy delicious! Sweet and smoky at its finest!

Bacon Pancakes, like Blueberry Pancakes but only it's Bacon

Ingredients

Use my Pancake recipe

-8  slices of bacon roasted and chopped

Your choice of topping- I used real  Maple Syrup

Directions

Preheat oven to 400F

on a shallow roasting pan (even better one with a rack) place bacon on. 

Pop into the oven for 10-12 minutes or until crisp!

oven crispy!

Crumble or chop/ leave about a tablespoon for garnish if desired.

Spray griddle or skillet with spray or butter, then set heat to medium heat. Scoop out about a 1/2 cup of pancake batter of each pancake on your griddle, and spread into a flat circle gently. Sprinklea handful of bacon on. Cook for about 3 minutes, or until a mass amount of bubbles form over the top. Flip, cook for another 2 minutes. Repeat until batter and bacon is gone!

Drench maple syrup and garnish with leftover bacon (if desired).

That not only helped me feel better, but put a huge smile on my whole family's face and I predict many easy breakfast dinners in the future. Thanks for reading my sad ramblings.

Confessions, Nipples, and Other Random Nothingness

1) So while chatting with a friend today, I realized something. I am a backwards late bloomer. I didn't fill out my clothes "in all the right places" until I was about 19.5 years old, I had my first kiss when I was 20 and I had sex for the first time when I was 19. There will be a post in a future explaining that one. And I just now know what I love to do all the time. Which is cooking and taking photos. I am ridiculously new to the world of photography and I have been cooking consistently for past 3 years. I know you're thinking, 'what's backwards about that?' Well, I found these passions when I became a mother, and it seems that I have no time or have to restrict when and how I should take these passions to the next level. Maybe I just have horrible time-management skills. It's something I will work on most certainly. Having picky eaters only allows me find creative ways to incorporate new tasty ways to put healthy, exotic food in front of them and I've learned to take my camera everywhere. So we'll see. I'll update soon.

2) Last year 5 months after giving birth to my 3d child, my crazy ass decided to take some boudoir photos for my dear husband. Why? Because my breasts were awesome! Really they were. Plus I don't really get to do wild spontaneous things as a mother, and I am a spontaneous kind of lady! So, I took some photos for my husband and was surprised with all the praise the photos I posted in Facebook and 2 other forums. Well, it's that time again. And there are some changed from last year. 1. I've lost all the baby weight; 2. I found a good hairstylist; 3. I found the perfect woman to do my eyebrows; 4. I learned from mistakes last year; 5. I am actually motivated to give 2 shits; 6. I will drink a glass or 2 of champagne prior! Last year I was meh about it all, way too nervous to research anything; yeah I know when you're nervous you usually try- I don't. Instead  chomped on McDonald's hamburgers excessively. Well I am hoping the photos turn out nice and I will be working with the same photographer. Of course I will share here! Here's one from last year. Just a hint of nipplage, though.

3)Rain and cloudy weather has the strangest effect on me. Whereas it makes other people sleepy, I feel very motivated and inspired. Sunny weather makes me lazy and want to play all day which may be the typical thing with most people anyway. Today was cloudy, but humid, and I found I got loads around the house. More than I did total all week! I am thankful for a break from the sun, I guess :)

4)If you're reading this then thank you. 

A Sprinkle of Randomness and a Dash Confessions

Saturday Morning.

Been up literally all night and I am not tired at all.

This morning I realized I haven't read any literature that hasn't anything to do with all things culinary since my first son was about 10 months old. Time to make a change. If anyone has any suggestions please suggest away!



I love to hear people talk about how great their children are. It makes me less self-conscious about bragging about my little ones! No one likes the parent who romanticizes everything single thing their child does. But there isn't anything wrong with a little boasting every now and again.

It's been hard to regain some sense of normalcy sense my son came home from the hospital. I had everything scheduled to a T, then all hell breaks loose. Times like this I wish I was back home and can have the help of my loving family. Not to mention the younger two are sick as well. What's this thing called normal again?

I love to squeeze my children. They're oh so squeezable and adorable. Especially when I'm feeling a bit stress. The harder I squeeze the harder they laugh!!! So happy they're so squishy!

The blogosphere is no joke. I have some serious research to do.

Although I have 3 children I am still a spontaneous ball of crazy. I guess it's good that I had my children at a young age :)