You Spin Me Right 'Round Baby, Right 'Round

My mind is all jumbled and spinning.  I'm trying to get my thoughts together right now so this will most likely be just a rambling mess, but here goes...

Over the past couple of months I have watched some of my facebook friends, co-workers, and very close friends become some of the most inspiring men and women I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.  Something in the air in 2013 has given people some mad motivation.  Whether it's striving to become a better person through fitness and weight loss, weeding out the negative in their lives and getting with the positive, simply inspiring others, or sometimes all of the above these people are impressing the hell outta me!  I'm a pretty stubborn person, so I don't normally just give in and conform, even if it is to a good thing.  I don't like to be judged by anyone, especially myself.  They say we are our own worst critics.  I fear failure.  I feel people seeing me fail.  I don't want to be one of those people, as I have been in the past, posting about how I just got a fabulous work-out at the gym and then a couple months down the road all of a sudden those posts stop.  And so do the gym sessions...and bring on the ice cream, baby!  I also don't want to be left in the dust either.  Believe it or not, somewhere in this warped, crazy brain of mine I am somewhat of a fierce competitor.  I'm just really quiet about it.  

So you're not going to see me posting about how many reps I did or this amazing vegan diet I've adapted to.  I'm going to continue to post crabby, screw-the-world statuses when I'm pissed off about something.  I'm going to keep up with the stupid, BFF-crazy-nonsense-drunk posts on Friday nights.  I'm not giving up my lazy-laying-on-the-couch-drinking-a-Natty nights.  If I did, then I just wouldn't be "me".  But just know...I'm watching you people.  And you're inspiring the hell out of me.  :)

Another Day In Paradise

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a diagnosis described by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as an ongoing pattern of anger guided disobedience, hostilely defiant behavior toward authority figures which goes beyond the bounds of normal childhood behavior. Children suffering from this disorder may appear very stubborn and often angry. 

<sup>site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppositional_defiant_disorder 

Synonyms: Pain in the ass, Argues with Wolves, Nikki

I love my daughter with all my heart.  I'd never give her up for the world, nor would I ever give up on her.  However, there are days like today where I just have to look up and say, "Really, God?  REALLY?."  Just a sample of how my morning went:

Me: Nik, did you take your medicine? 
Nikki: yes.  
Me: Do you have your lunch? 
Nikki: Yes.  
Me:  Do you have your key?  
Nikki: YES!!!  Uuuuuuggghhhh!!!!  
Me: Hey!  Don't be like that.  I'm just trying to help you.  Excuse me for not wanting you to be locked outside in the middle of winter!
Nikki: It's not even WINTER!!!  
Me: Really...so I suppose the next thing you're going to tell me is that the sky isn't blue.
Nikki:  Not today, it isn't.
 
Really.....  REALLY????

God love her.</sup> 
 

 

Quest for the Perfect Chili

It's just a silly chili cook-off contest at work....or IS it? 

THE WORLD MAY NEVER KNOW.  

Yeah, they probably don't care either way.  I just always wanted to say that.

Anywho.  I'm done being silly (you don't believe me, do you?).  No, seriously.  Let's get serious about some chili here. *serious face*  People are serious about chili these days.  Seriously.  So I figure I should be serious too (ok, fine...I'll stop).  After all, it was one of the first things I ever learned to cook.  It's also one of the first recipes I ever added to my little homemade cook book - made from a used three-ring binder they were going to throw out at work (SNAG!).  So I got an email about a Chili Cook-off from the Employee Committee (said in a deep, important sounding voice) at work a couple weeks ago.  I thought, "Hmmm....should I enter?  Can they handle my insane chili-making skills?  Are they even aware of the type of commitment they're about to make?"  Kidding.  It was actually a bit more like, "Meh...sure I'll make some chili.  Whatevs."

Let's go back to that first-thing-I-ever-learned-to-cook thing.  I was ehh...17, I think.  Yeah pretty sure I was 17 because I recall my (now ex) boyfriend's mom wouldn't let me smoke in the house because I wasn't old enough.  I had to smoke on the back porch.  <insert eye roll>  She was a pretty good cook though.  Cooking for a husband and two growing teenage boys on her husbands income alone is cause for some frugal creativity I presume.  I just remember she'd make the best chili.  Stuff I never got at mom's growing up because everyone was so picky in our house (sorry Mom-it's not your fault).  I was picky too but I'd try it anyway - so as not to be rude - and end up liking it (it's a wonder what guilt will do).  It was different every time she'd make it.  She'd throw in whatever she could find in the pantry at the time and somehow she would make it work.  She taught me something as simple as a can of corn can stretch the batch to feed two more people.  I remember asking her for the recipe.  She gave me the basics, showed me how to do it and then said, "Add whatever else you like.  It's your chili."  So that's what I did.  And I've been experimenting with it since then.  As a side-note, I hear she's not doing too well with her health right now.  Send up a thought and a prayer if you get the chance. 

Really, my chili isn't anything special...to me at least.  It's not "white" or "green".  It's not fancy.  It's just mine.  I have learned to tone down the heat since I've had kids, though.  I once won "Hottest Chili" at a work chili cook-off.  I might have killed someone with that batch, but it was damn good.  Every once in a while I'll peruse the internets for tips.  There's TONS of forums and recipes (like I said, people are seriously serious about chili).  Always looking for that extra little kick I can add to my chili, or soup, or rub, or marinade...you get the point.  So, thanks to those three little words:  It's. Your. Chili.  They made me the cook I am today.

Hopefully I have an ecstatic "YEAH BUDDY!!  I WON!!  TAKE THAT B*TCHES!!" update for you all later.  Judging starts in an hour!  Wish me luck!!!

You Must Be This Patient to Ride

Approximately half of all marriages today end in divorce.  Along with that, many of my same-age friends have preteens or teenagers living in their households.  Therefore, I suspect there are a lot of people going through what a close friend of mine has been with her son.  She recently asked me for advice and I thought I'd share with everyone what I told her.  You see, this friend of mine has raised her boys by herself for the most part.  Dad is a deadbeat.  He's fairly often unemployed, has legal issues, consistently behind on child support, and just an all-around bad influence for his boys.  Now, her oldest boy has told her he wants to go and live with his dad.  He hasn't been doing very good in school and she has threatened to hold him back if his grades don't improve.  There are quite a few major changes going on in her household right now as well.  I can understand how he may be feeling, having once been a teenager myself.

I have thought about what I would say to my own children in this situation, so I already had the words in my head.  As many of you may know, I have a daughter that's about to become a teenager.  As headstrong as she is (she is my "Mini-Me' after all), I imagine I would be going through the same situation with her if my husband and I were to separate, God forbid.  

If you're ever faced with a disgruntled teenager who thinks he or she would be better off with the other parent, take a deep breath and start with this (without sarcasm or contempt, of course):

“I understand it’s tough being a teenager.  Everyone is telling you to act like a grown up but not giving you the freedom to make your own choices.  You’re right, though.  You could choose to live with your [other parent] at your age.  However, I want you to understand what that means and how things will likely go.  You will either A) have to convince me to agree to let you do that (which is not going to happen because I don’t believe that is in your best interest as your parent) or B) ask your [other parent] to petition the court on your behalf for a change of custody.  A court date will be set, you will have to talk to a judge and convince him or her that there is sufficient reason to remove you from my home and allow you to live with your [other parent].  Unless your life is at risk or there are drugs or illegal activity in my house, it is highly unlikely that a judge will make a decision in your favor.  That, in turn will likely cause more stress on everyone involved and make the situation that you think is so bad here, significantly worse.  So I want you to think about which path you would like to take.  Either you can abide by the rules in my house, and work hard in school, and understand that I am only doing my job as a parent: to raise you to be a self-sufficient upstanding member of society, or you can continue in thinking that your life will somehow be better if you go and live with your [other parent].”

I sincerely hope that my words can help someone else, as it has her, on this emotional roller coaster of raising a teenager.  Hang in there.  It's worth the ride.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Easy and Made From Scratch?  No Way!!

1 lb chicken breast
1-15 oz can petite diced tomatoes
1 med onion, chopped
1-4 oz can green chiles
 2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup water
1-14.5 oz can chicken broth
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 bay leaf (remove when done cooking)
1 can corn (optional)
1 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

Combine all ingredients in a large pot.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 mins.  Remove chicken breasts from the soup and let cool for about 5 mins.  Shred chicken with a fork and add back to soup.  Return to boil, reduce heat and simmer for an additional 10 mins..

Garnish soup with shredded cheese, tortilla chips, and sour cream.

Dr Peppered Ribs

What's for dinner?

4 lbs country style pork ribs
3 c ketchup
3 c Dr Pepper (or Mr Pibb)
1 c dark brown sugar, firmly packed
6 tsp chili powder
4 tsp black pepper, ground
1-1/2 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Place ribs in a non-reactive glass baking pan.  Pour 2/3 of the Dr Pepper on the ribs.  Cover with foil or plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator overnight.  In a blender, combine remaining Dr Pepper, ketchup, brown sugar, cinnamon, chili powder, black pepper, and dry mustard.  Blend until the mixture is smooth, with no lumps.  Pour this mixture into a glass bowl and set aside.

Now here's where we're winging it because we don't have time to smoke these for a long time tonight.  We're using our Traeger grill (which is awesome btw...expensive, but awesome), but you could very easily cook these in your oven or on a charcoal or gas grill.

The directions say "Start your grill, switch to medium.  Cook for approx 2 hrs.  Switch to smoke and begin to mop the ribs with the sauce mixture.  Mop ribs every 1/2  hr for 3 hrs or until internal temp reaches 165 degrees.

We are doing the following: 350 degrees for roughly 45 mins.  Then 80 degrees for another 45 mins or so until they are up to temp (mopping with sauce every 10 or so mins at this stage).

Enjoy!

Home Made Cheeseburger Macaroni Hamburger Helper

On a Dime!!!

Ingredients:
1 lb 80/20 ground beef or chuck

1 cup hot water

2 cups milk

1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Spice mix:

1 Tbs corn starch

2 tsp paprika

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar 

Brown Meat, drain fat.

Stir in water, milk, pasta, and spice mix.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 12 minutes. 

In the last few minutes of cooking, stir in the cheese. 

 

Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes.  Sauce will thicken as it stands.

BON APETITE!!