Being Domestic

Sundays tend to be my crazy cleaning days.  Although Jeremy and I try to keep the apartment at least somewhat tidy every day, I still feel the need to really clean at least once a week.  If I didn't hate emptying the container, I'd probably vacuum every single day.  Today was even more fun, as I tackled the bath tub/shower.  See, our little puppy decided to jump and wrestle in a mud puddle last weekend at the dog park.  Because we live in an apartment, I had no choice but to clean him off in the bathtub.  Said bathtub was then stained with mud for the last week, because I was too lazy.

Anyway, one of my new best friends are these little guys, the Scrubbing Bubbles foaming spray.  I just doused the bathtub walls and 'floor' with the foam, cleaned everything else in the bathroom, and went back to the shower.  It really only took one good elbow-greased scrub of the sponge and all the mud/grime/puppy filth wiped right off.


Now onto some baking... and menu planning for the week :)

Pumpkin Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I saw a recipe awhile ago on All Recipes that I really wanted to try baking.  It was for Pumpkin-Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.  I started with this recipe, but made quite a few changes/substitutions.  My recipe is at the end of this post.  They turned out deliciously well, and were pretty quick and easy to make.  I did have to wait awhile for the whole batch to bake, as my smaller cookies yielded a little over 60.  Not a normal cookie texture; more cake-like (well other than the first dozen which I burned. oops.)  Next time, I'll probably up the oatmeal and pumpkin, or add some pre-blended pumpkin spice.  I was surprised how slight the pumpkin taste was in the finished cookies.

Regardless, our apartment smells like autumn now, and I love it.  If only Mother Nature would cooperate with the weather....

Pumpkin Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Ingredients

2 cups wheat flour

1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 cup pumpkin (NOT pie filling)

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla (or an oz. rum)

1 cup baking raisins

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. In medium bowl, loosely mix together flour, oats, baking soda, and spices.   In separate bowl (with hand mixer), beat together butter, vanilla and sugars until whipped and fluffy.  To sugar mix, add egg and pumpkin, beat well.  Add dry ingredients and raisins; mix until blended.

3. Drop tablespoon-sized dough onto lightly greased cookie sheets.  Bake 13-15 minutes or until cookies are firm and cake-like.  Allow to cool on baking sheets a few minutes, then cool completely on wire racks.

Makes approximately 60 2-inch cookies.

For nutritional information, generated by Spark Recipes, visit: http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=1280300

mmm chili

So Mother Nature decided to taunt me for a few weeks with some gorgeous fall weather.  My response? Breaking out the Crock Pot, of course. One of my new favorite go-to recipes is chili.  Probably because it's one of those meals that is constantly changing, dependent on whatever is in my cupboards at the time.  The original inspiration for this recipe was found on All Recipes (my favorite website. ever.)  It started as a chili made with pork tenderloin: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Jerres-Black-Bean-and-Pork-Tenderloin-Slow-Cooker-Chili/Detail.aspx.


Jeremy and I agreed that yesterday's batch was the best attempt yet.  Although I didn't really measure everything, here's how the recipe currently stands:


Crock Pot Chili
*1lb of ground turkey, browned and seasoned with hamburger spices
*1-16oz jar medium salsa (the stuff with the big chunks of tomatoes and peppers)
*2 cans of black beans

*1 can chili beans
*1 cup beef stock (one can)
*1/2 cup frozen corn
*1/3 cup ketchup (to sweeten it up)
*1 tablespoon chili powder
*1 tsp oregeno powder
*1 tsp cumin
*1/2 tsp cardamom
*1/2 tsp fresh black pepper


I usually throw whatever other spices sound good at the time. This time it was a few dashes of hamburger seasoning and nutmeg and parsley, I think.  You can substitute the beef stock for beer, too.  That's what I usually do, but we only had really good beer in the house, which I didn't want to waste. ;)  

mmm chili and cheese.

I usually cook up the hamburger/turkey the night before.  Then just throw this all together in the Crock Pot, set it on low, give it a good stir, and leave for the day.  Come home, give it another good stir; add some water/beer if it gets too dry.  We typically serve it over some brown rice and top with shredded cheddar.  This recipe will make enough for us to get at least 8 (hearty) servings, and it's rather inexpensive too!

Let's try this again...

... k?  Maybe if I throw out my goals on the internet for strangers to read, I'll actually stick with them.  I've decided to use this blog as more of an outlet for myself.  I'm not sure what I will be writing about, to be honest.  A little bit of everything.  One thing I've noticed lately is that I've been sick. A lot.  I never used to miss work and I've missed quite a few days the last few months due to migraines, etc.

Through a little online searching and talking with friends I've decided to try doing a gluten-free diet.  No, I'm not actually allergic to wheat and I don't have Celiac's. I am, however, hopelessly addicted to carbs. ;)  I also realize this is a semi-fad diet right now.  However, there really are no negative side affects.  I hope to use this new 'diet' as a way to be more informed about the foods I am eating.

I'd like to make this blog a little online cookbook storage as I find recipes to try, and new foods to sample.  First up for resources:  this book, The Gluten-Free Good Health Cookbook by Annalise G. Roberts and Claudia Pillow, PhD.

I've browsed through the introduction and explanation of 'why go gluten-free' which helped convince me this might be worth attempting. The basic info I absorbed is that you need to neutralize your body.  If you eat a lot of acidic foods, also eat alkaline foods as well.  We'll see how this goes!  Up next? Finding some good recipes.