March 14, 2013 by
Back to Weight Watchers
December 31, 2012 by
I rejoined Weight Watchers about a week ago, the online version this time, and I’m pretty glad I did. the last time I did WW was 7 years ago. I lost over 115 lbs, and I felt great, but I got too skinny and WW still wanted me to lose more. I couldn’t. I got depressed and gave up.
WW has changed a lot since then. I was able to select my own goal weight (I chose a number that was usual for me my freshman year of college.), the points system is more flexible, I can eat all the fruit I can get my hands on (Green Bean Delivery keeps me in fruit!) and the tools on the online plan do make it easy for me to track. I’ve been cooking more. Making my own tortillas (more experiments on that to come), creating chicken-based alternatives to my usual pork sausage/beef taco meat. It’s all new again right now, so I’m not bored with it yet. I hope I can stick with it and not get frustrated this time.
One thing that is part of my diet these days is kombucha. I did a post on it a while back; my first experiments didn’t go so well. I have a system now. My SCOBY is nice and thick, and I am able to brew up a batch of about 2L every other week. I’ve found that adding a little POM juice before the second ferment makes a really tasty “soda”. I do my second ferment in 1L mason jars in the pantry. Works marvelously!
Today is the last day of 2012. Better than 2011 for me, but I am ready to let it go. 2013 should be amazing. I’m turning 40 (30), I’m going to be getting the house ready for my move to the west coast in 2014, I’m going to be busier and healthier than I’ve been in a long time. Happy New Year!
A choice
August 14, 2012 by
The person who wrote this is a member of my family of choice, and while I knew that this was a part of her history, I wasn’t cognizant of just how emotionally draining the concept of “domestic abuse” is. I’ve never been physically abused by a man, although one did hit me once. Once. I am lucky.
I hope that anyone who reads this and sees herself (or himself!) in it finds the strength to find help.
I’m lying, gut crumpled on the kitchen floor in a dingy two-room apartment in Lowell, Massachusetts. Stupidly, I remember that I washed and waxed that cracked linoleum this morning. I see a spot I must have missed over there…right past the blood streaming from my nose. It’s hard to breathe. I snort. Blood sprays. My head pounds. I think I connected with the chipped refrigerator door twice. I’m not sure about that. I’m dizzy. He rears up and kicks me, laughing. Profanity. From him. Lots of it.
Cody has been found!
July 22, 2012 by
We are pleased to announce that Dekota (Cody) Tegtmeier was found at his father’s house on 7-17 was detained, is now safe and in protective custody. At the request of my legal team, I am unable to disclose more details than that. When the ink on the papers is dry, we will update this page. Here is to healing and a bright future for my son and our entire family. Thank you to everyone who helped in our quest to find Cody.
French Toast Tip
June 2, 2012 by
You don’t need the freshest bread to get a great result; buy clearance bread off the post-sell date rack at the bakery after 9pm! Save a few bucks. In fact, I find that if I slice my bread the night before and set it in a colander in the fridge, the slightly stale, dryer bread soaks up my batter better and I get a lighter, fluffier breakfast.
Any day French Toast
Print recipe
| Serves | 1 |
| Prep time | 5 minutes |
| Cook time | 5 minutes |
| Total time | 10 minutes |
| Meal type | Breakfast |
| Misc | Serve Hot |
Ingredients
- 2 medium slices Italian Bread
- 1 Egg
- 1 tablespoon Half & Half
- 1 tablespoon Flavoured Syrup ((eg. Vanilla or Blackberry))
- 1 tablespoon Butter
Directions
| Step 1 | In a heavy or cast iron pan, melt butter over medium heat. Allow to become a light golden color, but be careful not to burn it. |
| Step 2 | Whip egg, half & half, and syrup together in a shallow bowl. |
| Step 3 | Soak bread in egg mixture, flipping once, for about 2-3 minutes per side. Egg mixture from one egg should be fully absorbed for two slices of Italian bread. |
| Step 4 | Set bread in pan, allow to cook about 1 minute per side. Check for even browning. |
| Step 5 | Plate and cover with fruit topping (see blueberry recipe), chocolate syrup, powdered sugar, etc! |
Blueberry syrup two ways
May 31, 2012 by
These are great ways to use up overripe berries (it doesn’t have to be blueberries: I’ve made this with raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, etc.). The recipes calls for frozen because they tend to give off the most liquid when you boil them, but add a little water when you use fresh berries and you will get a pretty good result. You can also freeze your overripe berries to change the texture of them before making syrup. The freezing process breaks down the cellular walls and makes the fruits “pulpier”.
For a berry soda with no HFCS, add a tablespoon of the soda syrup to club soda.
Blueberry soda syrup
| Serves | 30 |
| Cook time | 10 minutes |
| Dietary | Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian |
| Meal type | Beverage |
| Misc | Pre-preparable |
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- .5 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
Directions
| Step 1 | Combine all ingredients in a small sauce pan |
| Step 2 | Bring to a boil |
| Step 3 | Ensure sugar is completely integrated |
| Step 4 | Remove from heat, allow to cool |
| Step 5 | Strain to bottle |
Note
Store in refrigerator
Fresh or frozen berries can be used; I sometimes do this with berries that are "overripe". You will need to adjust the amount of water/berries to get the right consistency.
For a tasty anti-oxidant rich topping on your breakfast or dessert, try this:
Blueberry syrup topping
| Serves | 15 |
| Cook time | 10 minutes |
| Dietary | Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian |
| Meal type | Breakfast, Condiment |
| Misc | Pre-preparable |
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- 1 cup sugar
Directions
| Step 1 | Combine in a small saucepan |
| Step 2 | Bring to a boil, ensure sugar is fully integrated |
| Step 3 | Remove from heat, allow to cool |
| Step 4 | Bottle with berries intact |
Note
Refrigerate.
Use as a topping on pancakes, French toast, ice cream, etc.
Experiment with boil times to get the right thickness. Remember, the syrup will thicken on cooling.
Homebrew Syrups Part 1
May 28, 2012 by
I started making syrup because I’m impatient in the morning. Adding sugar to my coffee and then stirring and stirring until it was fully integrated just irritated me. Making simple syrup and using that instead made it easy. Adding flavors to simple syrup created more options, for coffee and for soda. Add a tablespoon to coffee, club soda, or water. Below are some of my favorite recipes.
Simple Syrup
| Serves | 30 |
| Cook time | 5 minutes |
| Dietary | Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian |
| Meal type | Beverage, Condiment |
| Misc | Pre-preparable |
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar (white sugar works best; organic will give a somewhat cloudy final product)
- 1 cup water
Directions
| Step 1 | Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan, cover. |
| Step 2 | Heat until boiling. |
| Step 3 | Boil about 1 minute. |
| Step 4 | Remove from heat and allow to cool. |
Note
I pre-boil my water in an electric kettle to speed things up.
No need to refrigerate, but I keep mine in a speed pour bottle (like a bartender) so I put it in the fridge mostly to keep bugs out.
When adding flavors there are a few things to consider. Some ingredients change flavor dramatically when they are boiled, so you need to work a little differently.
Citrus syrup
| Serves | 30 |
| Prep time | 10 minutes |
| Cook time | 10 minutes |
| Total time | 20 minutes |
| Dietary | Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian |
| Meal type | Beverage |
| Misc | Pre-preparable |
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh squeezed juice (lemon, lime, orange, etc.)
- 1 cup sugar
- .25 cup water
Directions
| Step 1 | Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan |
| Step 2 | Bring to a boil |
| Step 3 | Boil about one minute |
| Step 4 | Remove from heat, allow to cool |
| Step 5 | Mix with juice |
Note
You don't want to boil citrus, it will alter the flavor. Store in refrigerator.
Add 1 tbl to 8 oz water or soda for lemonade/limeade.
Other flavors fill out on boiling, like a tea, and are ideal for the simple syrup process.
Vanilla Bean Syrup
| Serves | 30 |
| Prep time | 3 minutes |
| Cook time | 10 minutes |
| Total time | 13 minutes |
| Dietary | Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian |
| Meal type | Beverage |
| Misc | Pre-preparable |
Ingredients
- 1 vanilla bean (separate and scrape)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1.5 cups water
Directions
| Step 1 | Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan |
| Step 2 | Bring to a boil |
| Step 3 | Boil about 10 minutes |
| Step 4 | Remove from heat, allow to cool |
| Step 5 | To preserve and intensify flavor, bottle with the beans |
Please help find Dakota!
May 18, 2012 by
5/18/2012: MISSING TEEN ALERT: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania -- Dakota Tegtmeier (16) has been missing from the Penn Manor area since 5/14/2012. He is 5'7" and weighs 135 pounds. His hair is long and black and his eyes are brown. He has an eyebrow ring. He may have been wearing a black hoodie and a black cap. If you see Dakota, please call Manor Township Police Department at (717) 299-5231 or dial 911. SOURCE: Posted by request of Dakota's family
https://www.facebook.com/MissingCodyTegtmeier
PLEASE help us find this kid. I know him personally. His mother is a dear friend of mine and she is living through hell not knowing where her kid is! Repost, pass it on!
He WILL be found! So Mote It Be!
How to Succeed in Business (With Trying, but Not Too Hard)
February 29, 2012 by
I received another “reverse cold call” today — a call from a potential client who got my name from someone and is interested in working with me. Someone asked how do I do it. Positive attitude has something to do with it, but these are the things I’ve noticed that seem to help me manifest work…sometimes more than I can handle.
Step one: get a reputation.
No, not like the one I had in High School, although that certainly does get you calls. Just not ones that make you money. Reputation means keeping the right people happy, making sure you are reachable and responsive, and that you know your shit.
Step two: specialize.
If you can’t fit everything you do on a readable business card, you’re doin’ it wrong. Specializing in two or three specific skills also makes it easier to know your shit, which helps with your reputation. Stay on top of these things.
Step three: network.
Don’t drink more than one at networking events. Be memorable for the right reasons. You don’t have to chatter on about your work, but you want people to remember your name. Be friendly, don’t make a goal of getting a business card in every hand there, focus on making key connections with a few people who can be really useful.
Step Four: share the wealth.
Since you specialize in two or three things, when you get a call for something you *don’t* do, pass it on to a networking buddy who *does* do it right away. This helps to build goodwill among your peers and with any luck they will do the same for you. It also helps with reputation if you point people to good resources when you cannot help directly!
Step Five: get an awesome assistant.
There are some things you’ll have to get done that you just plain suck at. Find someone to help who doesn’t suck. This will help immensely with reputation, and free you up to do what you do best.
Crochet Skills
January 29, 2012 by
Kind of simple and boring, so I put a flower clip on it. Because I didn't have a bird.
Since I’ve been doing s a few projects requiring crochet skills, I decided to brush up on them with a couple of simple projects using yarn I had “laying around”. I made this simple cap with mostly double and triple stitches, in the round, and some decreasing. I forgot the you should really start a cap at the top, so I kind of worked backwards, but it worked.
I’ve also discovered that Kitteh is very much a “ball of yarn” kind of kitteh. I will have to get photos of that as it is quite amusing. I know not to let her around the yarn unattended, though, and keep my projects in a box when I’m not around. I know too many people who have spent thousands getting yarn cut out of cat bellies.
Bridal Tulle (the fine gauge stuff) makes a good everyday scrubbie. For a tough scrubber, you'll want to use the coarser netting.
I also made another set of scrubbies from a roll of that bridal tulle I had laying around. This time, I got the “in the round” right and they are all a nice, flat circle about 4″ in diameter. It seems like one roll of bridal tulle, cut in half (that’s the PITA part) makes 5 of these almost exactly. Now I just need to learn to work the saw so I can cut the roll in half quickly!