2010 February

slow cooker taco soup

02/26/2010 by Annalise · Leave a Comment

I have a sick baby. Taking care of a sick baby means I have no time to cook. No time to cook means… it’s time to break out the slow cooker!!

We all know the crockpot is the perfect solution for days where you know you won’t have any time to cook… and a meal that takes less than 5 minutes to put together makes it even better!

This is one of my favorite super quick and easy meals, and it’s always a hit with the family!

Crockpot Taco Soup Recipe

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1/2 large onion, minced
2 regular cans diced tomatoes
1 small can diced green chiles
2 cans beans, drained and rinsed (use whatever kinds you have!)
1 can creamed corn
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
salt & pepper, to taste

Directions:
Stir everything together in your slow cooker, cover and let it cook on LOW for 6-8 hours!

Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, and whatever else you would like as toppings! (We like chips with ours, and black olives!)

Filed Under: recipes, recipes - crockpot, recipes - freezer, recipes - make ahead, recipes - slow cooker, recipes - soup ·

croup… and mom guilt.

02/25/2010 by Annalise · Leave a Comment

We have a very sick little boy right now. After a horrible night of not being able to breathe well, and being inconsolable… I took Bjorn to the doctor and found out that he has an ear infection and croup.

He’s such a miserable little guy right now… his bath is one of the few things that helps him feel a little bit better!

He was fine on Tuesday… he just seemed to have a little cold. That night, we put him to bed as usual and about an hour later he woke up coughing and gasping for breath so badly that we first thought he had aspirated his vomit! It took about an hour just to get him to calm down enough to get a decent breath… and the rest of the night went downhill from there.

He couldn’t catch his breath. He couldn’t swallow. He didn’t want to be held. He didn’t want to be put down. He couldn’t lay down. He couldn’t sit up on his own. He couldn’t sleep…

After the fact, I realize that we should have taken him to the ER that night, right away. At one point he couldn’t even swallow his own saliva, and drool was pouring out of his mouth like water. We questioned it all night long, and were just about to get up and go when he finally calmed down enough to sleep a few hours. The worst had passed apparently…

We were lucky. Things could have gone much worse for him, and I feel horrible that we didn’t just take him to the ER when that thought first crossed our minds!

Why didn’t we?? Well, because 9 out of 10 times, it seems, when you do rush your little one to the ER or the doctor, they tell you that they’re just fine, and there’s really nothing they can do. And I hate that feeling of being treated like an over-protective worry-wart!

So, I guess you could say it was my own pride that kept me from taking him in? Is that what we’ve learned from this experience??

I hate that I didn’t just listen to my gut and take him in. Maybe he would have found relief much sooner. Maybe his little body wouldn’t have exhausted itself to the point of collapse. Maybe he wouldn’t be so sick today, if we had gotten him relief sooner that night.

I know there’s nothing I can do to go back and change the past, but I will learn from this and look toward the future.

I will no longer ignore my mom-instincts and let them be drowned out by the voices of others. I will take care of my child, whatever it takes, and I will make sure he gets the best care possible. I will not care what others think of me… only what he thinks of me, and ultimately what He thinks of me!

Filed Under: baby bjørn, croup, mama musings, ramblings ·

the best salad

02/23/2010 by Annalise · Leave a Comment

Have you ever had a perfect, amazing salad at a fancy restaurant and wondered why salad never tastes that good at home??

This recipe is just as good, actually it’s better, than any fancy restaurant’s!

The Best Salad Recipe

Ingredients:
2 heads romaine hearts, torn into bite-sized pieces
1/2 cup thinly-sliced green onion
3/4 cup grated romano cheese
1 cup well-done bacon bits
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved

1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/2-1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Directions:
Toss the first 4 ingredients together in a large bowl, and refrigerate.

In a Tupperware container or glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, mix together the last 8 ingredients, shaking well.

Just before serving, toss the dressing with the salad and tomatoes.

This salad can easily be made-ahead, undressed… and the dressing can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for 3-5 days!

Filed Under: recipes, recipes - make ahead, recipes - salads ·

banana not ice cream

02/19/2010 by Annalise · Leave a Comment

Ice cream without the cream… or the sugar! If you’re trying to avoid sugar or can’t have dairy, but love ice cream, here’s your solution!

I like chocolate syrup and chopped nuts on mine (think Chocolate-Covered Frozen Banana!), but for those trying to be extra healthy, feel free to enjoy it plain!

(and in case you were wondering… Yes, you have seen this here before in a slightly less-healthy Nutella version! to see that again, click here!)

Banana Not Ice Cream Recipe

This recipe makes 2-4 small servings.

Ingredients:

3-4 bananas, sliced

Directions:

Slice the bananas into 1/2″ rounds, place in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze overnight.

Place the frozen banana slices into your food processor or blender. Pulse (or blend) until the bananas are smooth and creamy, the consistency of soft-serve ice cream! (This will take a few minutes… be patient!)

(Disclaimer: Your food processor might sound like it is going to explode in to a million pieces when you start processing the frozen bananas. It WON’T! - or at least mine didn’t! :o) - Just give it a few pulses and it will start to calm down…)

You can eat this right away as a soft-serve ice cream, or if you like your ice cream firm like I do, pack it into a tupperware container and freeze for several hours!

Filed Under: recipes, recipes - desserts, recipes - make ahead ·

my love

02/18/2010 by Annalise · Leave a Comment

3 years ago today I married my best friend. The man I had been waiting my whole life for. And I am so glad I did.

Our life is not easy, but it is not worrisome either. Our life is not pretty, but it is beautiful. Our life is not without pain and trials, but it is also not without comfort and support.

We love each other. But most importantly we love our Savior. He makes us whole, and without Him, we are nothing.

3 years ago we became one, and we are both better people because of having the other in our life.

Andrew, my sweet husband, I love you so much. Thank you for loving me, and forgiving me, and being patient with me, and for making me a better person. Thank you for everything you do for me, for us, and for growing a little more each day into the man God is making you.

I love you. So much. Forever-Ever.