Snow Days, Snow Men, & Hot Sriracha!

After 2 weeks, we finally got good snow! 

OVER THE PAST 2 WEEKS, I HAVE ONLY SEEN MY STUDENTS FOR 2 FULL DAYS.  

COUNT THEM- 2 FULL DAYS & 3 HALF DAYS. 

THAT'S 10 DAYS, IN THE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY, AND ONLY 3.5 DAYS OF INSTRUCTION.

 

I AM BEGINNING TO FORGET THEIR NAMES, THEIR FACES, THEIR PERSONALITIES. . . HECK, I AM BEGINNING TO FORGET WHAT I WAS TEACHING! :)

MAY I BE THE FIRST TO LET YOU IN ON A LITTLE SECRET-

WHILE TEACHERS ENJOY SNOW DAYS- WE ALSO ENJOY TEACHING & I AM BEGINNING TO MISS MY STUDENTS.  (I KNOW RIGHT?!, SHH. . . IT'S A SECRET!)

WINTER STORM 2K15 HAS BEEN LIKE A PRE-SPRING-BREAK SPRING BREAK.  MY COUSINS AND I HAVE HAD LOTS OF FUN. . . MAKING 5 SNOW MEN, TURNING THOSE SNOW MEN INTO GIANT SNOW BALLS WHEN THEY BEGAN TO MELT, SLEDDING. . . 

BUT LAST WEEK WHEN WE GOT ICE INSTEAD OF SNOW, WE HAD FUN COOKING!  PINTEREST AND I HAVE BEEN BEST FRIENDS THIS MONTH, AND I HAVE FINALLY HAD TIME TO TRY NEW & DIFFERENT RECIPES.

HERE'S ONE OF MY FAVORITES, COURTESY OF CREME DE LA CRUM:

HONEY SRIRACHA CHICKEN

Ingredients

ADD STIR FRY VEGGIES FOR A WELL-ROUNDED MEAL

3-4 chicken breasts, diced

** I ADD ONE BAG OF FROZEN STIR FRY VEGETABLES**
⅓ cup cornstarch

sauce
1 cup water
2-3 tablespoons sriracha (depending on how spicy you want it)
5 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon minced garlic
¼ cup sugar
2-3 tablespoons honey (depending on how sweet you want it)
2 tablespoons corn starch + 2 tablespoons cold water
optional: crushed red pepper flakes, cooked rice for serving

Instructions

 

In a small-medium sauce pan, combine the 1 cup of water, sriracha, soy sauce, garlic, sugar, and honey and stir. 

 

Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat. 

 

Whisk together the 2 tablespoons corn starch and remaining 2 tablespoons of water until dissolved. 

 

Add to sauce pan and stir until thickened. 

 

Reduce heat to low.
*Cute Little Chef not required.* :)

 

 

 

 

 

Add diced chicken and ⅓ cup corn starch to a large plastic bag. 

 

Seal the bag and shake to coat chicken. 

*This step is way more fun with help from cute chefs**

 

Drizzle a large pan or skillet with oil over medium heat. 

 

Add chicken and sauté until browned and chicken is cooked through. 

 

Add the sauce and stir to coat. 

 

Sprinkle with crushed pepper flakes if desired and serve over warm rice.

 Check out Creme de la Crumb's blog for more delicious recipes!  This one was wonderful.  I've already made it twice, and my family has made twice since, too!

Creme de la Crumb's Blogspot

FOR A VEGAN ALTERNATIVE: 

 

Substitute the chicken for an additional bag of stir fry veggies.
Substitute the honey for 2-3 tablespoons of Stevia.

COOKING IN THE SUMMER OR FALL?  

 

Why not check out your local farmer's market for a fresh alternative to the stir fry veggies.

 

WANT A LOW-GI ALTERNATIVE?

 

Substitute the white rice for brown rice. (Note: Brown rice takes twice as long to cook so plan ahead.)
Substitute the honey and sugar for Stevia.

MEAL PLANNING- AM I REALLY DOING THIS?!?!

WEEK 3 OF MEAL PLANNING: SNACKS ARE A NEW ADDITION! :)

LET ME BE VERY HONEST-  

I HAVE ALWAYS HATED THE IDEA OF MEAL PLANNING. 

I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHY.  THE IDEA OF IT SEEMED TOO ORGANIZED, TYPE-A, AND HIGH STRUNG FOR ME.  ASSUMPTIONS, I KNOW, BUT VERY REAL IDEAS THAT PREVENTED ME FROM EVER CONSIDERING IT.

AND THEN I FOUND MYSELF ON A 13 HOUR ROAD TRIP . . . BY MYSELF. . . AND ON A MEDIA FAST. . . 



AND ALL I HAD TO DO WAS THINK, CONSIDER, AND PRAY.





THESE TWO QUESTIONS FLOODED MY BRAIN:

1. HOW DO I EAT HEALTHY & GLUTEN-FREE- ON A BUDGET????

&

2. HOW DO I BALANCE THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY IN MY LIFE WITH MY VERY REAL NEED OF LIVING - ON A BUDGET????? [I AM TWENTY-SOMETHING A SOCIAL LIFE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO GIVE UP.]

 

AND THEN MY VERY AWESOME FRIEND, SUPER-MOM, & HIPPY-IN-THE-MAKING FRIEND, M, LET ME HANG OUT WITH HER ONE AFTERNOON WHILE SHE MEAL-PLANNED AND SHOPPED FOR THE MONTH.

SHE MEAL PLANNED FOR A MONTH.

I MEAL PLANNED FOR A WEEK.

AND HERE'S WHAT I DISCOVERED:

 MEAL PLANNING IS NOT THAT DIFFICULT.

ACTUALLY, FOR SOMEONE WHO LOVES FOOD AS MUCH AS I DO,   

MEAL PLANNING CAN BE FUN.

 

MOST OF MY LIST IS FROM THE PRODUCE SECTION!

SO IT'S WEEK 3 OF MEAL PLANNING & IT'S THE LAST WEEK OF THE MONTH.

GUESS WHAT??? 

I STAYED WITHIN MY GROCERY BUDGET THIS MONTH- THAT INCLUDES EATING OUT WITH FRIENDS & FAMILY.

THIS ALSO INCLUDES-

• BUYING FRESH FRUITS & VEGETABLES. 

 

• COOKING FOR FRIENDS & FAMILY.

 

• BEING ON A ROAD TRIP THAT TOOK ME DOWN THE STATE & BACK UP.

 INSTEAD OF MEAL PLANNING BEING ANOTHER CHORE TO ADD TO MY LIST OF THINGS TO DO, I FIND MYSELF LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING IT-

BECAUSE IT OFFERS ME A SENSE OF FREEDOM.  WITH A PLAN IN FRONT OF ME, I CUT DOWN ON BUYING GROCERIES THAT I DO NOT NEED OR BEING TEMPTED TO JUST GRAB SOMETHING ON MY WAY HOME.

THIS ALLOWS ME TO BUY QUALITY & HAVE A LITTLE FUN WITH IT- 

AND NOT FEEL GUILTY!!!

 

THINGS I'VE LEARNED AFTER MAKING 3 WEEKLY MEAL PLANS-

~MAKE IT FUN.  MEAL PLAN ON SOMETHING THAT WILL HOLD YOUR INTEREST.   

PRACTICAL ME WANTED TO MEAL PLAN ON CALENDAR ON MY MAC, BUT I QUICKLY GOT BORED WITH THAT IDEA.  I FOUND THAT CREATING A QUICK, CUTE WEEKLY CALENDAR ACTUALLY MOTIVATED ME TO PLAN.  IF THE IDEA OF CREATING SOMETHING STRESSES YOU OUT, THEN MAYBE A NOTEPAD AND A PEN ARE ALL YOU NEED.

~IF IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME, TAKE STOCK OF WHAT'S IN YOUR PANTRY.

THIS HELPED ME PICK BETWEEN RECIPES THAT I HAD & HELPED KEEP ME WITHIN BUDGET FOR THE MONTH.

~MARK DOWN THE EVENTS THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW ABOUT FIRST.

THIS HELPS MAKE THE TASK SEEM LESS DAUNTING.

~PLAN FOR ONE NEW/FAVORITE RECIPE EACH WEEK.  I LIKE TO TRY A PINTEREST MEAL OR TWO.

THIS WAS A TIP MY FRIEND, M, GAVE ME, AND I LOVE IT!  IT KEEPS THINGS CREATIVE & FUN.  SHE ALSO GAVE ME THIS TIP- IF IT'S A RECIPE YOU LIKE, WRITE IT DOWN.  THEN DELETE IT FROM YOUR PINTEREST BOARD SO THAT YOUR BOARD DOESN'T BECOME OVERWHELMING.

 
  

#Health&Freedom

BUDGETS- JUST TYPING THE WORD TURNS MY STOMACHS IN KNOTS.  

HERE'S WHAT I AM LEARNING ABOUT MYSELF THROUGHOUT THIS JOURNEY: 

I AM A TYPE-A PERSONALITY.

THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ME PERSONALLY ARE PROBABLY THINKING, "DUH!" BUT LET ME DEFEND MYSELF HERE.  I HAVE WORKED WITH AND LIVED WITH TYPE-A PERSONALITIES, AND WHEN I COMPARED MYSELF TO THEM, I DID NOT SEE MYSELF AS TYPE-A:

•  I CAN STAND A LITTLE CLUTTER.

• SOMETIMES I HAVE NO LAUNDRY BASKETS ON LAUNDRY DAY BECAUSE  CLEAN LAUNDRY IS STILL OCCUPYING MY BASKETS.
  [WHO AM I KIDDING, THERE IS NO DESIGNATED "LAUNDRY DAY." IT'S WHENEVER I AM DESPERATE FOR CLEAN CLOTHES. ]

• I AM PERFECTLY OKAY WITH SOMEONE ELSE BEING IN CHARGE AND PLANNING THE EVENTS.

• I HAVE TO MAKE MYSELF ORGANIZE AND EVEN THEN I ONLY DO IT TO KEEP MY HEAD ABOVE WATER WHEN LIFE/SCHOOL GETS BUSY.

HOWEVER, AS I WRESTLE WITH FINDING ANSWERS TO ALL MY QUESTIONS, I AM LEARNING THAT THE REASON I HAVE FAILED WITH BUDGETS SPECIFICALLY IN THE PAST IS BECAUSE I HAVE A HARD TIME DOING SOMETHING AND NOT BEING PERFECT AT IT.  CLASSIC TYPE-A PERSONALITY- RIGHT?!

OVER THE PAST MONTH I HAVE ALSO LEARNED THAT BECAUSE I AM A TYPE-A PERSONALITY, SATAN ATTACKS ME BY POURING ON THE GUILT.  BUT GOD DOESN'T OFFER BELIEVERS A LIFE OF CONVICTION AND GUILT.  HE OFFERS BELIEVERS A LIFE OF CONVICTION AND FREEDOM.

AS THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY COMES TO A CLOSE, 

                LIFE WITH GOD AND A BUDGET HAS GIVEN ME A TASTE OF FINANCIAL FREEDOM:

 NOT FINANCIAL FREEDOM IN THE SENSE THAT MY DEBT HAS BEEN LOWERED, AND NOW I HAVE MORE MONEY TO SPEND ON MYSELF.

 

FINANCIAL FREEDOM IN THE SENSE THAT I HAVE MONEY AFTER SAVINGS THAT CAN BE USED TO HELP OTHERS.

 

 

 I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE CHANCE TO RECEIVE GRACE AND TO EXTEND GRACE.

SO THIS MONTH MY GIRLFRIENDS AND I ARE TAKING SOME OF OUR "EXTRA" MONEY FROM THE MONTH AND RUNNING/WALKING IN THE

WE ARE COMMUNITY GLOW RUN 5K

 ON FEBRUARY 28TH AT 7 PM.  ALL THE PROCEEDS FROM THIS EVENT WILL BENEFIT THE LOCAL CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER IN OUR COMMUNITY.  THIS GROUP OFFERS PROTECTION AND COUNSELING SERVICES FOR THE CHILDREN IN OUR AREA.

WHY DON'T YOU JOIN US? 

 

Eating- A Love Language Among Friends

MY FRIENDS ARE AN AWESOME, ECLECTIC GROUP OF PEOPLE . . . 

                     WHO LOVE TO EAT.  

AMONGST OUR GROUP, WE  HAVE-

                     ITALIAN COOKS
                    THE NEXT TOP CHEF
                    VEGANS
                    CARNIVORES [WHO ARE SOMETIME OMNIVORES IF BREAD IS AN OPTION]
                    A GLUTEN-FREE DIET
                    & EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

LIKE I SAID, WE LOVE TO EAT- EAT OUT & EAT IN.

HERE IS A SIMPLE DISH THAT I CAME UP WITH A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO TO ACCOMMODATE THE VEGANS & GF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP.  IT CAN EASILY BE ADJUSTED TO SATISFY THE CARNIVORE'S DIET AS WELL.  IF YOU'RE ALL EATING TOGETHER- THE MEAT COULD BE COOKED ON THE SIDE AND USED TO TOP OFF THE BURRITO BOWL.

TOTAL COST: $8.50

 THE BURRITO BOWL

INGREDIENTS

1 C BROWN RICE 
DASH OF SALT
1-2 TBS FRESH CILANTRO
1 SMALL WHITE ONION (CHOPPED)
1 TBS OLIVE OIL
1 CAN ROTEL DICED TOMATOES [MILD OR MEDIUM DEPENDING ON TASTE PREFERENCE]
1 CAN ORGANIC WHITE CORN (DRAINED)
1 CAN ORGANIC BLACK BEANS (DRAINED)
1 BAG BLUE CORN TORTILLA CHIPS (OPTIONAL)
*OUR LOCAL GROCERY STORE HAS HAD THESE ALL NATURAL TORTILLA CHIPS ON SALE RECENTLY FOR $2.50.
*I USED SRIRACHA WHILE COOKING FOR ADDED SPICE.
*THE PICTURE ABOVE INCLUDES 1 LB OF GROUND BEEF COOKED IN TACO SEASONING & CHEESE AS A TOPPING.   

PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES

COOK TIME: 50 - 70 MINUTES 

SERVINGS:  MAKES 6-8 SERVINGS.

DIRECTIONS:     

COOK RICE, CILANTRO, AND SALT ACCORDING TO STANDARD INSTRUCTIONS.   [EITHER ON THE BAG OR IN A RICE COOKER.]

NOTE: BROWN RICE TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 45-60 MINUTES TO COOK.

AFTER RICE HAS FINISHED COOKING, SAUTE ONION IN OLIVE OIL UNTIL ONION BECOMES TRANSLUCENT.

ADD ROTEL, CORN, AND BLACK BEANS TO ONIONS AND COOK FOR AN ADDITIONAL 3-5 MINUTES.

ADD IN THE RICE AND SRIRACHA (TO TASTE) AND COOK UNTIL THE DISH IS WARM THROUGHOUT.

FOR A VEGAN/GLUTEN-FREE MEAL-
SERVE ALONE OR ON TOP OF BLUE CORN TORTILLA CHIPS.  
TOP WITH SALSA [IF YOU COOKED WITHOUT SRIRACHA].

FOR A GLUTEN-FREE MEAL- 
SERVE ALONE OR ON TOP OF BLUE CORN TORTILLA CHIPS.
TOP WITH SALSA [IF YOU COOKED WITHOUT SRIRACHA] & CHEESE.

FOR A MEAL :) -
SERVE ALONE, ON TOP OF BLUE CORN TORTILLA CHIPS, OR ON TORTILLAS.
TOP WITH SALSA [IF YOU COOKED WITHOUT SRIRACHA] & CHEESE.

**IF INCLUDING MEAT, ADD YOUR CHICKEN OR BEEF IN ALONGSIDE THE RICE.**
**COOK THE CHICKEN OR MEAT ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTIONS ON YOUR TACO SEASONING.**

At Least I'm Not Allergic to Chocolate! Living as a Gluten-Intolerant, Socially Conscious Twenty-Something

AT THE  BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH. . . I FOUND MYSELF SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF A MEDIA FAST. . .  AND. . . A 13 HOUR DRIVE.  NOW STOP FOR A MOMENT AND CONTEMPLATE THOSE TWO SITUATIONS-  HERE, I'LL HELP.

IN THE FORM OF AN EQUATION 
[JUST LIKE MY AP STUDENTS DID A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO TO PROVE THAT GIRLS, IN FACT, DO EQUAL EVIL- THAT ONE WILL HAVE TO BE INCLUDED IN A LATER POST]

MEDIA FAST = NO FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM

                                      &

MEDIA FAST = NO TELEVISION OR RADIO

                                     SO

MEDIA FAST = ME + AN ALL SONS & DAUGHTERS CD

                                   NOW

13 HOUR DRIVE = JUST ME + MY CAR, SASHA 
**YES, MY CAR IS NAMED IN HONOR OF J.D.'S SCOOTER IN SCRUBS.  THANK YOU, J.D., TURK, AND DR. COX FOR GETTING ME THROUGH 4 YEARS OF BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY CLASSES IN COLLEGE**

            PUT THE EQUATIONS TOGETHER

MEDIA FAST + 13 HOUR DRIVE = JUST ME + MY CAR, SASHA + AN ALL SONS & DAUGHTERS CD

                          WHICH MEANS

MEDIA FAST + 13 HOUR DRIVE = PLENTY OF TIME TO CONTEMPLATE LIFE

NOW THESE 13 HOURS OF UNINTERRUPTED CONTEMPLATION ALLOWED FOR MANY QUESTIONS TO FLOAT THROUGH MY MIND.  QUESTIONS LIKE-

• HOW DO I BECOME BETTER AT FOLLOWING A BUDGET?  [AS A TEACHER, I HAVE ACCEPTED BUDGETING AS A NECESSARY PART OF MY LIFE THAT ALLOWS ME TO PURSUE ONE OF MY MAIN PASSIONS IN LIFE]

• HOW DO I FOLLOW SAID BUDGET WHILE MAINTAINING A GLUTEN-FREE DIET?  [THIS ONE IS VERY NEW FOR ME BECAUSE I ONLY DISCOVERED MY ALLERGY LAST OCTOBER.]

•  HOW DO I FOLLOW A BUDGET, EAT GLUTEN-FREE, AND EAT HEALTHY? [IN PREPARATION FOR WINTER STORM 2K15, I RECENTLY PURCHASED A $4 LOAF OF GF BREAD WHICH IS HALF THE SIZE OF YOUR STANDARD LOAF OF BREAD.   BUT NEVER FEAR, READERS, I AM STILL ALOUD TO EAT CHICKEN-FAJITA NACHOS WHENEVER I LIKE- AND DON'T FORGET, CHOCOLATE!]
  
• HOW DO I FOLLOW A BUDGET, EAT GLUTEN-FREE, EAT HEALTHY, AND STILL ENJOY THE FELLOWSHIP OF FAMILY & FRIENDS WHILE EATING OUT?  [IF YOUR FRIENDS ARE LIKE MY FRIENDS, EATING IS YOUR LOVE LANGUAGE ;)]
  
• HOW DO I FOLLOW A BUDGET AND MAKE ETHICAL CHOICES ABOUT WHERE MY PRODUCTS  ORIGINATE? [AM I A CONSUMER THAT SUPPORTS FAIR WAGES FOR OTHERS OR AM I A CONSUMER THAT SUPPORTS COMPANIES WHO EMPLOY SLAVE OR CHILD LABOR?]
• IF I AM GETTING READY TO PURCHASE A HOUSE, HOW DO I MAINTAIN A BUDGET WHILE DECORATING A HOME THAT IS WELCOMING FOR OTHERS WHILE STILL LEAVING MONEY AVAILABLE TO INVEST IN OTHERS IN NEED? [THANKS, JEN HATMAKER, SEVEN HAS CHANGED MY LIFE- FOR THE BETTER- BUT I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS TO WRESTLE THROUGH!]

THESE QUESTIONS AND QUITE A FEW OTHERS  FLOATED THROUGH MY MIND THROUGHOUT THE 13 HOUR TRIP, AND I'LL BE HONEST WHILE 13 HOURS SEEMS LIKE PLENTY OF TIME TO ASK QUESTIONS AND FIND ANSWERS.  I STILL HAVE VERY FEW ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS.  

THAT'S WHERE THIS BLOG COMES IN-  I AM A TWENTY-SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY ON A JOURNEY.  AS I BEGAN TALKING WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY ABOUT THESE QUESTIONS, I REALIZED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE ASKING THEM.  

SO HERE'S MY STORY. MY JOURNEY.  I'LL BE SHARING-

• INEXPENSIVE GLUTEN FREE RECIPES THAT I'VE FOUND OR CREATED
• MEAL PLANS FOR THE WEEK
• INEXPENSIVE CRAFT IDEAS FOR HOME DECORATION
• SIMPLE WORK-OUT PLANS 
• MY STRUGGLES ALONG THE WAY

HOPE YOU CAN BE ENCOURAGED!   HOPE YOU ENJOY!

LUNCH FOR THE WEEK ($4 DOLLARS PER LUNCH)

INGREDIENTS:

5 MASON JARS 
DRESSING OF YOUR CHOICE
4 OZ OF BROCCOLI FLORETS 
1 PKG OF CARROT STICKS 
1 CAN ORGANIC WHITE CORN
1 CAN ORGANIC BLACK BEANS
1 PKG GRAPE TOMATOS
2 AVOCADOS (PITTED & DICED)
1 HEAD ROMAINE LETTUCE
** MEAT OF YOUR CHOICE COULD ALSO BE ADDED**

IN A MASON JAR, LAYER EACH OF THE INGREDIENTS IN THE ABOVE ORDER.  PLACE IN THE FRIDGE FOR UP TO 5 DAYS.