Super Simple Peanut Butter Fudge

1 - 16 oz. Jar of Peanut Butter
       (creamy or chunky - your choice!)
1 Can of Vanilla Frosting

Mix together - spread in pan and let it set-up (doesn't take long).

YEP - that's it!  I've thought of trying chocolate frosting, but haven't yet.

Keeping Busy?

I recently read this during my devotional time:  “People who are trying to be friendly sometimes ask, ‘Are you keeping busy?’  The question seems harmless, but in my mind it carries a subtle message.  Beneath the surface is a test of personal value.  If I can’t rattle off a list of things I have to do, I feel as if I’m admitting that I’m not worth much.  But does God determine our value by how busy we are?  Does He calculate our worth by how much we accomplish?  Does He reward us for living on the edge of exhaustion and not taking care of ourselves?”

How often do we feel “guilty” because the house isn’t spotless?  Or, even if it is presentable, the refrigerator that needs cleaning out, or the overflowing laundry hamper that’s stuffed behind closet doors, nags away at us!  “You need to do more!  You need to do more!”

I’ve been especially reminded of this during the past couple of months.  The church I work for has been doing “The 90-Day Challenge”.  The goal is to read the entire Bible, cover-to-cover, in 90 days.  In order to accomplish this you would need to carve out “an extra” hour (or so) each and every day for 3 months.  My first thought, “yeah, like that’s going to happen!”  And since I had such a negative attitude about finding that “extra” hour each day it DIDN’T HAPPEN for me.  Today they are on day #69 – I wish I had been doing that reading for these past 69 days.

But, back in January, I just couldn’t seem to wrap my mind around how I could make that happen.  I honestly don’t know how working women, who are married with children (and/or grandchildren) do it!  I’ve said that for years!  I always feel “behind” … and it’s JUST ME!  I only have my meals and laundry to worry about – yet I stop way too often and grab something for dinner on the way home from work because “I’m too busy to cook” … and let’s not even discuss my laundry!  For the most part I only have dishes for one – but they still manage to stack up in the kitchen sink.

I used to feel more like I could “keep up”.  Of course for the last few years my health as been a huge issue (and a good excuse?) – my energy reserves often feel like they’re in the negative digits!  And the past couple of years issues with my parents have taken up a lot of my extra time.  That’s been especially the case since August when my mom made her journey to Heaven.  My dad missed her so much that he completely fell apart physically.  He’s still working on trying to regain his strength and health from those bad couple of months.  It does take a lot of time to support another person through such a significant life change.

So I guess I do have “reasons” … or excuses!  But even with legitimate reasons, I still feel the guilt of not being more on top of things.  UNTIL …

… the other day I was reading the blog of my friend’s daughter-in-law.  She was writing about talking to several of her friends who felt overwhelmed, stressed out, and not able to stay on top of it all.  She shared this:  “On one side of a piece of paper make a list of all the things you do.  On the other side of the paper make a list of all the things you don’t do.  In order for you to be able to do the things you do, you also have to not do some other things.  In other words, you only have so much time … and so you need to choose to invest it on the ‘things I do’ side.  If you want to add something new to that side, then you probably have to move something off of it to the ‘things I don’t do’ side.  Then whenever you see someone else who, for example, bakes their own bread, and you think to yourself, ‘Wow, I wish I baked my own bread … I don’t measure up.’  You can remind yourself, ‘No, look at all the things that I’ve chosen to do … I could do that too, if I’m willing to give up something else.”

She then went on to list 10 things that she does NOT do.  She ended that with, “There are many, many more things that I don’t do because doing them would suffocate the life and beauty out of the things I do do.  Things like playing with my children and listening to my husband share about his work, or taking a walk with friends.  All the things on my list would be good things to do.  Beneficial, even.  But they can’t take the place of the other good things I’m doing.  And I am learning that I don’t need to compare my dos and don’ts with anyone else’s.”

I started to share my own list of things I don’t do – but then changed my mind.  God has made each of us different, with different talents and skills and capacities for doing.  So there is no need to compare, and therefore, I decided my own list wasn’t necessary to post.  The DO lists and the DON’T lists will be constantly changing anyway.  The idea is that we shouldn’t be pressuring ourselves into “doing it all” … or even thinking that we should try.  There will always be some new things to take on, or things we need to hold off on while we finish other things.

We are meant to live with limitations, so setting boundaries for ourselves is a good thing.  Instead of wishing you made your own bread, ask the friend who does if you can buy a loaf from her once in a while!  Think outside the box … or, maybe, it’s going to be something that will have to stay on your DON’T list indefinitely.

God doesn’t want us to feel defeated … especially about things that have no eternal value.  Deciding to put “making my bed everyday” on your DON’T list isn’t going to keep anyone from going to Heaven!  But it's hard to feel motivated to ask a non-Christian friend to attend church with you if your mind is mush because you’re stressed and frazzled from not putting more things on your DON’T list.

If we could do it all we wouldn’t know our need for God … so for that reason I’m glad my DON’T list is so stinkin’ long!!

Easy Chicken Divan

2 (10 oz.) Pkgs. Frozen Broccoli
3 Chicken Breasts, Baked and cut into smaller pieces
         (or just pull it apart - that's what I do!)
2 Cans of Cream of Chicken Soup
1 C. Mayonaise
1 tsp. Lemon Juice
1/2 tsp. Curry Powder
1/2 C. Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Cook Broccoli and arrange on the bottom of your baking dish (spray or grease dish).  Arrange chicken over the broccoli.  Combine soup, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and curry powder.  Pour over chicken and broccoli.  Sprinkle with grated cheese.  Bake at 350 degrees until bubbling (30 minutes or so).

Ready For Spring

Aren't these pretty?  So fresh, and springlike.  So whimsical.  I love them!

I saw this in Google Images the other day when (once again) I was actually looking for something completely different.  Don’t you just love how you can type something into Google, thinking it’s the MOST OBVIOUS word or phrase to get you where you want to go, only to have a plethora of things pop-up that have nothing to do with what you were really looking for?  But I guess that’s another blog!

Anyway, I’ve been feeling a little “discontent” with some of my home décor.  Nothing MAJOR – just the feeling of wanting to do a few different things here and here.  Change some things up, freshen things up … you know what I’m saying.  When I saw this picture I was immediately gripped with an “I WANT THAT”, gotta have it, my OCD “I will search until I find these dishes” mentality.  Does that ever happen to anyone else? 

I doubt I’ll ever get these dishes – but I still want to freshen some things up.  I ordered some new shelves off of eBay that I want to put in my bathroom.

I think these are going to look FABULOUS with all of my vintage pharmaceutical bottles and tins on them.  Once they come, and I make the change I’ll post pictures so you can see how it turned out.

Also ordered this mirror (YES, this seller had things that made me go a little CRAZY!) – I think I’m going to put it over my fireplace.  But I’m going to have to see if that’s really it’s spot once it gets here.

I suspect I’m starting to come down with some Spring Fever – it’s usually this time of year when I start thinking that things in my house need to be changed around in one way or another!  Won’t be long now until we have LOTS of flowers blooming.  Remember to move your clocks ahead tonight.

Maybe I Just Needed Incentive?

While at work today I was trying to find some information about the location for this year’s Men’s Retreat (for some promo I was working on).  You know how that goes sometimes – you’re looking for one thing, you stumble onto another thing, you click a link here, you click a link there …

Anyway, that’s what I was doing when I stumbled onto a place I’d never even heard of.  It’s absolutely beautiful, it’s right here in Oregon, and I’d never even heard of it!  It’s a place in the Mount Hood area called Ramona Falls.

GORGEOUS eh?  It looks like a painting - but it's a photograph!

Right away I just knew I wanted to see this place for myself!  But when I started to read about how to get there my excitement sort of deflated.  It’s a 7.1 mile moderate to difficult hike.  Whoa … it’s been a long, long, long time since I’ve WALKED 7.1 miles!!  And I’m pretty sure I’ve NEVER HIKED 7.1 miles!

But then I got one of those “Oprah ‘ah ha’ moments”, and remembered the new exercise DVD’s I ordered.  They were waiting for me when I got home from work yesterday.  I didn’t have a chance to even open them yet … but now that they’re here I certainly plan to use them!  So the little wheels in my head started to spin.  Maybe that 7.1 mile moderate to difficult (eek!!) Ramona Falls hike is the incentive I need to really kick-start my motivation!  Just what I’ve needed to STICK to the Weight Watchers eating plan, start using those DVD’s, work my way up to more challenging exercise, and viola RAMONA FALLS!!!

Ramona Creek, on the trail to Ramona Falls

I know with CERTAINTY that I won’t be making that hike in 2011 (sadly).  Even if my motivation for diet/exercise were at 1000% - my heart issues would make it IMPOSSIBLE to condition my body for something like this so soon.  So MY GOAL – to make this hike in the summer of 2012!!

I’ve already emailed my brother and made him say he will take me here and do the hike with me!  He and my sis-in-law like to do hiking in the summer – it will be a fun thing to look forward to doing with them.  I’m going to make myself a copy of this Ramona Falls picture and keep it somewhere in my house where I can look at it and remind myself of one of the things I’m working toward.

Ramona Falls or BUST!!!

Company Casserole

This is a recipe I found years ago in a Mennonite Cookbook.  It’s kind of like Lasagna.  I love this recipe so much that I haven’t made Lasagna since I found it!

¾ lb. Hamburger

1 pkg. Dry Spaghetti Sauce Mix

1 (15 oz.) can Tomato Sauce

½ C. Sour Cream

1 C. Cottage Cheese

8 oz. pkg. of Cream Cheese

12 oz. pkg. Egg Noodles (wide or fancy cut)

3 T. Melted Butter or Margarine

Brown and drain hamburger.  Stir in dry mix and tomato sauce.  Simmer.  I also like to add 1 can of sliced black olives.  I add them right into the sauce while it simmers.  Cream the 3 cheeses together.  Cook noodles and drain.  Put half the noodles in baking dish.  Cover with cheese mixture.  Add other half of noodles.  Top with meat mixture.  Drizzle with melted butter.  Bake at 375 for 45 minutes or until it bubbles.

NOTE:  This is the BASIC recipe.  Once you’ve made it you can adjust things to your taste.  I normally just use the 1 package of cream cheese – but SELDOM do I use only ½ C. of Sour Cream and/or 1 C. of Cottage Cheese.  Same with the hamburger – the amount depends more on what I have on hand and want/need to use up.   I don’t always drizzle the melted butter on top … but it really does make it taste a little more “extra good”.  This is a super easy recipe … ENJOY!

Ruby ... Keep Inspiring Me!

Anyone out there, besides me, who watches “Ruby” on the Style Network (or on Comcast’s On Demand)?  When it first came on a couple of years ago it took me a couple of episodes to decide if I actually liked the show.  Not sure what my issues were in the beginning, because now I love it!

Ruby once weighed over 700 lbs.  While I haven’t quite reached that number (thank you Dear Lord) … the number I do see when I step on the scale FEELS nearly as insurmountable.   It’s people like Ruby who are so inspiring to me.  I know that everyone has at least somewhat of a problem shedding excess pounds.  If that weren’t the case the diet product industry wouldn’t make zillions of dollars every year from those of us “desperate” to lose the weight.  But until you’ve had 75, 100, 150 lbs. (or even more like Ruby) you can’t truly understand just how insurmountable it really feels.

Not only is Ruby attempting to lose the weight – but she’s trying to do it the right way.  She’s trying to eat more healthy foods, she’s exercising, and she’s seeing a therapist to help her understand (or figure out) why it is she gained all that weight in the first place.

I can identify with that.  I’ve asked myself a million times why I did this to myself (more than once I might add!  grrrrrrrrr).  How can I have it “figured out” in my head … and yet it feels like my head is the problem?  How can I KNOW exactly what it is I need to do and not do it?  How can I be intelligent enough to push through in other areas of my life where I resist, but I can’t seem to give the big heave-ho to all this weight?

Like Ruby, there are so many things in my life that have been controlled by my weight.  Even when my weight wasn’t the issue that it is right now – I still convinced myself that my weight was such that I couldn’t possibly do “fill in the blank”.  I don’t reach as high as I could because the weight makes me feel like no matter how high I reach it won’t be enough.  I make excuses, that often border on ridiculous, because I fear my weight will put me in a position where I'll fail – and then have to actually face just how far I’ve let myself go.

I admire the things that Ruby pushes herself to try.  Of course with this being a “reality”show – I think they are pretty sure of the outcome before the camera’s start to roll.  Though the outcome isn’t always good – it’s different when you know that when going into it – it’s not the same as complete real life reality!  But still – seeing her ride a horse, or fit into a go-cart, or walk 3-miles in a Relay for Life Walk.  It helps one to realize that if Ruby didn’t break the horses back when she got on, then maybe I could try riding a horse too.  Probably NOT … but maybe! LOL J

I posted once before about “my plan” for losing weight – which will be Weight Watchers.  That’s a proven plan for me.  I like it, so I’m sticking with it.  I ordered some exercise DVD’s that you can do while sitting down.  Right now that’s an important thing for me since the added weight I’m carrying kills my back when I’m on my feet for very long.  I was happy after doing some research to find this kind of exercise option.

Recently, on a blog I follow, I read this:  “I have this deep rooted weed within myself that I am watering with food.  It’s as if there is nothing that can satisfy its hunger.”  That really struck me – because sometimes I feel that same way.  I need to figure out WHY I choose to eat chips instead of an apple.  Well, besides the obvious reason! LOL J  But seriously – there has to be a reason that I continue to sabotage myself by abusing my body and my health is this disastrous way.  As Dr. Phil would say, “so how’s that working for you?”  Uh, well, it’s not!

I know I can do this!  I’ve done it before!  I’ve lost the weight before, and I’ve exercised to the point that I was able to raise (my heart) ejection fraction from 25% to 47%.  I couldn’t believe how much better I felt … and yet I let it slip away.  Why did I do that?

I MUST make better choices!  If you’re reading this please say a prayer for me J

Pumpkin Muffins

Anyone who is a Weight Watchers member, or former Weight Watchers member, most certainly is familiar with this recipe.  But for those who aren't ... give this a try.

1 box of Cake Mix - either Spice or Carrot Cake
1 small can of Pumpkin (not Pumpkin Pie Mix)

Mix together - just these two ingredients.  It's very thick, and a little hard to mix, but just when you think it's not all going to mix together ... it does!  Spoon evenly into muffin tin.  Makes 12 muffins.  These are very dense, and very flavorful, and very delicious!  (I always mix mine by hand, but you could probably use a mixer).

Hashbrown Casserole

This is certainly a recipe that's been around for a long time ... and one that I'm sure many of you have, and have made often.  But I'm planning to include this in dinner that I'm taking to my dad this weekend ... so thought I'd go ahead and post it here.

1 Bag of Frozen Hash Browns
1 (10 oz.) Can "Cream of ....." Soup (I prefer Cream of Celery ... but use whatever you like)
1 Pint Sour Cream
2 Cups Grated Cheddar Cheese
1/2 Cup Melted Butter or Margarine
1 Pkg. Onion Soup Mix
Salt & Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray an 11 X 14 baking dish with cooking spray.

Mix all ingredients together, except butter, and place in prepared pan.  Drizzle with the butter and bake for about 45 minutes, or until bubbling and brown on top.

TAKE NOTE:  I thaw my hash browns usually.  I normally only use about 1/2 to 3/4 of the Onion Soup Mix.  I find that using the entire package makes it a bit too salty for my taste.  I also omit the salt.  These are sinfully rich, and so easy to make.  ENJOY!