Down and Out

Down and out. That's how I have felt the past week or so.

I have been in some severe upper back pain. Thought I had another herniated disk so I was just giving it some time to heal with a little ibuprofen but that pain reliever was just not touching it. I still continue to walk my 3 miles each day and go to work. Somehow walking didn't make it any worst. Sitting was the hardest. The pain just kept getting worst. I mean, at times, I feel like I'm gonna be paralyzed and other times with the pain extending to my chest, having a heart attack. So im giving the walking a rest.

My husband has been great despite his own pain he endures in his knees from years of hard work. He makes sure I have everything I need and always lending a hand around the house and driving me to work at times. He is the best and I'm getting more spoiled each day.

After days of agony, I finally fell to tears and went to the doctor. I just knew one of those miracle steroid shots would add instant relief and I could stop wallowing. Little did I know when I was trying to tell him what my problem was. I was wrong.  I'm sure he's smarter than I am at this so I heard him out.

Upon examining me and triggering the main problem areas. He diagnosed me with muscle spasms which was causing a pinched nerve. Ouch is yes. That explained the numbness I have in my left arm and hand. No comfort here. He prescribed me some muscle relaxers (me like) and Prednisone. I put that off as long as I could......A day..... I'm turning to all I can for relief now. The relaxers are great but can only take them before bed because I turn into a noodle (me like).  I can finally rest at night but working during the day is a pain in the neck (you get it?).

Anyhow....The doctor did grant me one of those miracle shots before I left the office but I didn't get the relief I expected. He told me it could take up to 2 weeks of healing. Really?  Somehow I strained that muscle with lifting, reaching or bad posture. I have all three.

So I've been a little down and out and not much fun at home or work but I believe God can heal me on his time. I just need to ride it out. But quick please.

Five Minute Sweet Potato Chips

Hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day. Unfortunately, This Labor Day I had to work. However, I did skip out of work early. The work load was slow and Im having extreme back pain. Sitting still adds severe agony. I know what it is and plan to go to see the doctor about it. I have a herniated disk that flares up rarely but I hope to get relief.

Anyhow...I got home a few hours earlier than usual. My husband had some steaks ready to go on the grill. We had a nice little Labor Day dinner. I wish my daughter would have been home. This Labor Day she spent it at her own place, sitting around the pool enjoying time with friends. So, as long as she's happy, we are happy. Sorta. I mean, I miss her like crazy.

Being that I had some extra time in the kitchen, I made some home made sweet potato chips. I heard these are a great snack or side items and are better for you than regular potato chips.

They were so easy to make. I read how to make them and every site said to bake them at 300 degrees for two hours.
Oh no. I didn't have time for that.
So, I just placed the thinly sliced chips on a microwave safe plate, sprayed them with olive oil, a little salt / pepper and cooked them for only 3 minutes. That's all it took to have the perfect little crispy snack.
2 minutes to prepare, 3 minutes to cook. It cant get any easier than that.

We began eating them as fast as I made them. They barely made it to the dinner table.
If the sweeter side is what you'd rather have, try dipping them in some cinnamon & sugar. I tried it with some Land O lakes cinnamon butter spread and it tastes wonderful. I had to quickly put it away because its loaded with the calories I don't need.

After dinner we took a short walk and enjoyed the rest of the evening. It will not be long now until Autumn will arrive. Even though its still in the 90's here in North Carolina, the trees are already turning. That's just crazy.


Ive shared this at:
.cookng-and-crafting-with-j-j-link-up at pluckys-secondthought
amaze-me-monday at dwellings-theheartofyourhome
full-plate-thursday at mizhelenscountrycottage
the-wednesday-showcase at asavoryfeast
thursday-favorite-things-blog-hop at katherinescorner

Recipes Oldies But Goodies

My Daughter called up the other night wanting to know if I had a recipe for macaroni and cheese. I usually make mine in a crock pot (recipe here) but she wanted the one that bakes in the oven. This made my Husband and I run to the recipe box. The recipe box full of oldie but goodie recipes. These recipes were given down from as far as Grandmothers.

A few years ago I inherited some of my mother-in-laws recipes. She was a wonderful cook and a lot of her recipes were handed down from her older family and friends. Some of the recipes require items that you cant even find anymore. I have noticed that in a lot of old recipes, the amounts differ from today. I am sure she had a lot of recipes in her head that she didn't have to write down. That's how my Mom does a lot of her cooking as well.

We spent about an hour looking through them and laughing and remembering how our Moms would make things we liked or didn't like.

By the way, we found my Daughter a simple macaroni and cheese recipe. It was in one of the good ole old church recipe books made up of several recipes from ladies of the church.

While thumbing through some of those recipes, my husband pulled out an old recipe. One that was small and easy but yet made me think of how simple life was when we were small. How our Mothers would always have a remedy to make us feel better.

She didn't have to run out to the store, she could just make it herself.  Where do you find Paragoric? And did I just see 2 oz. of Whisky?  Every 30 minutes?
I think I feel a cough coming on.

Vintage Suitecase Ideas

I have been on this craze lately with vintage suitcases. I have a couple stacked up beside the bed in my daughters room as a night stand. I love how it gives the room a shabby chic or rustic look. I want to multi use them for something else but not sure yet what for. I think I will use one to house old photos or stationary as they sit pretty.

Looking around online, I found many ways to use old suitcases and it blew my mind. I'm on to something now. I want to keep collecting.

Now, sit back and enjoy some of these ideas I found online.

******************

1. Used as a night stand can give you more storage than just a drawer. You have little treasure chests to hide your keepsakes and other items you don't use regularly.

Refreshrestyle.com

2. Pet bed? Why not. Little fido needs some cute stuff to go along with your shabby style. I've see all kinds of these suitcase dog beds. They are so darn cute. Its like their own little bedroom with places to hide their toys and snacks.

Ninjadiva.blogspot.com

3. In case you need an extra chair.

Ehow.com

4. I like this one. Not sure where one would use this wine cabinet or where it would even look good hanging except in maybe a little retro camper or other small space. "Wait, there is an extra space on my office wall". hmm.

apartmenttherapy.com

5. Add some chalk paint and make a sign. You can change it as the day goes by. Sounds fun.

beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com

6. Christmas is just around the corner. Not my corner but everyone else's corner. I'm not finished with vacation yet, but afterwards, I can just throw some presents or Christmas decorations in an old suitcase and be done.

thelilypadcottage.com

7. I've seen this done at weddings. A keepsake box that your guest can throw in a card....or money.

3d-memoirs.com

8. This is too cute! Add a few legs and you have a table.

thebudgetdecorator.com

9. Again, not sure where this would look good hanging but I assume it would be darling in a tiny bathroom, small retro camper or small river shack or beach house.

artmenttherapy.com

10. You can lay a baby down for a nap and make a photo prop. Probably is the most use these suitcases get now days.

confessionsofapropjunkie.com

11. Not sure I could put dirt in one of these but this super cute! Its a little herb garden. 

mythreadbearlife.blogspot.com

12. This has got to be the cutest thing ever! A doll house! Be sure to visit the link to this one for more ideas. You can make a desk, craft or sewing boxes, and more.

secondsaleconsignments.com

I bet you all want to go out and buy you some of these suitcase now, dont ya? Well, I found mine for nearly nothing at thrift shops. They can be found at yard sales too. Like they say "one persons junk is another persons treasure".

Lite Blueberry French Toast

I've come to learn that some of the things I like to eat can be made "lite". Now, If you would have told me that seven months ago I'd roll my eyes and seriously, probably would not like the taste of low fat, low carb, or sugar free anything.  I still am not a believer that fat free foods are good for you. I think anything can be good for you if you eat it in moderation which I have also learned to do. Small portions every couple hours is the key. But for breakfast hour, I like to fill up on protein and Carbs. But again, keeping them low and moderate.

One of my favorite breakfast items next to waffles and pancakes is French toast. You see where Im at with this, now don't you? Sweet Sweet Sweet. That's fine because I use "sugar free" syrup. How syrup can be sugar free? I'm still trying to figure that one out.

Speaking of french toast and sweetness, I was trying to figure out a way to incorporate french toast in my daily diet. Figuration complete.

Now I would like to share how you can also make this delicious breakfast that is light and somewhat healthy. I mean, "wheat" bread is healthy right?

Blueberry French Toast:

You will need:
2 slices of 40 calorie wheat bread
1/4 cup of blueberries
2 egg whites (1/3 cup)
2 tablespoons of 1% milk.
Spray butter (its free of everything) for cooking.
Sugar free syrup.

How to do it:
In a shallow bowl, whip egg whites and milk.
Microwave blueberries for aprox 30 seconds. (makes them soft and juicy).
Mix the warm blueberries into the egg and milk mixture. (It will be a pretty purple).
Spray frying pan with butter.
Dip each piece of bread into the egg mixture coating both sides.
Fry both sides until lightly brown. 

Serve with sugar free syrup.

You can also top with fruit, jelly, or honey. Syrup is my favorite.
Don't have blueberries? I'm sure this would work just as well with other types of fruit.

Experiment and enjoy.

Nutrition Info:
Calories- 146
Carbs- 27 g
Fat- 1 g
Sugar- 7 g
Protein- 13 g
Fiber- 7 g
Cholesterol- 1 mg
Sodium- 283 mg
Potassium- 179 mg
Calcium- 12%
Iron- 26%


I've shared this at:
dare-to-share at pamspartyandpracticaltips
cooking-crafting-with-j-j-link-up at julieslifestyle.blogspot

Skinny Spinach Frittata For One

I recently was looking for a good breakfast recipe I could do that would work well with my diet plan. Since I'm the only one in the house right now that can eat eggs, this recipe works great. Lately I have found that eggs hold me over from breakfast to lunch better than anything else.

This recipe gives me protein and some veggies to get me through to the next meal without feeling hungry. With only 134 calories and 12 grams of protein, this is the perfect little meal for one.

I'd like to share my recipe with you, so grab your whisk and bowl and whip up this little eggcellent choice of mine.

Skinny Spinach Feta Frittata

Ingredients:

1 Cup of fresh spinach

1 Large egg

1 Tablespoon milk (I used 1%)

1 Tablespoon Chopped green pepper (optional)

1 Tablespoon Onion (optional)

2 Tablespoons Part-Skim Ricotta 

Instructions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees

Wilt spinach by heating in a small saucepan with a dash of water. (or place in a steamer).

In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, (and pepper and onions). 

Stir in the spinach

Pour into a small greased casserole dish or 6 inch non stick ovenproof skillet. 

Top with spoonfuls of the Ricotta and bake for 20 minutes.

You can change it up a bit by adding your favorite veggies and spices to make it fit your taste.

Enjoy.

Nutrition:

Calories- 134

Fat- 7.7 g

Sat Fat- 3.3 g

Cholesterol- 196.9 mg

Sodium- 141.7 mg

Carbs- 4.9 g

Protein- 11.7 g

Ive shared this at:

inspire-me-monday at create-with-joy.com
cooking-and-crafting-with-j-j-link-up
worthwhile-wednesdays at craftyallieblog.com
the-wednesday-showcase at asavoryfeast.com
full-plate-thursday at mizhelenscountrycottage
thursday-favorite-things-blog-hop at katherinescorner.com



Easy College Recipes

We all know that cooking can be time consuming. I mean, who has time to cook in their dorm when there are things to do and people to see. Oh and class.

You can find a lot of frozen microwavable steamed veggies and foods but here are just a few neat tricks you can have fun with and surprise your friends. All you need is a microwave!
Warning: Most are sweet stuff but you know you need the energy.

"Jail House Burrito"

Fun and easy to do. Adds a twist to the regular romaine noodle kind of night.

 

"Nuked Apples"

 

"Microwave egg"

 

"Easy Cake in a Cup"

With only 2 ingredients! 3 if you count the icing.

 

"Cake Batter Fudge"

No cooking required! Quick and easy to take for any party.

 

 "Cream Cheese and Jelly Dip"

This is not real pretty but taste just like cheese cake.

1 block cream cheese

1/2 jar strawberry jam

Mix and dip using cinnamon sugar graham crackers.

This would be awesome for a Halloween party too!

 

 

If you are a parent, a great thing to do is make a little recipe book of some of your own recipes that your son or daughter have always loved yet easy enough for them to do.

 

Best wishes!