And it was a good decision.
I found a recipe called “Belly Burner Chili” that intrigued me. While I tweaked the recipe a bit (just one pound of sausage and about a pound of potatoes, one can of tomato sauce, a little bit of diced fresh tomato, and I left the soy sauce out entirely), the end result is absolutely delicious. I know olives are kind of a polarizing foodstuff, so I’m sure a lot of people will be turning up their noses at the very idea of putting green and black (I used kalamata) olives in chili, but it’s actually really great. The olives don’t taste so olive-y along with all the other flavors and it creates a nice saltiness to go along with the spice and savoriness of the rest of the dish. I’m happy.
The thing that’s great about chili is that it can be a very healthy food, plus it’s cheap and very easy to make. We’ve been making chili almost every week since Ethan was born and I have never been happier to own a crock pot. It’s nice to just toss some ingredients into the slow cooker and just ignore it for eight hours or so. Insurance should cover them for new parents – we’d all be eating a lot better if that were the case!
Wow. This is riveting stuff, isn’t it? I think you can tell it has been an otherwise uneventful day. I didn’t actually accomplish any of the things I had planned – none of the laundry, the sheets still aren’t on the bed after being washed, the place is generally a mess – but I at least got in a ten-minute workout. Well, sort of. I had to keep stopping so that I could give Ethan his pacifier. I swear, that kid just does not get the concept of “keep pacifier in mouth” yet. He spits it out, waits a beat, and then freaks out. I know he’s a genius and all so we can’t expect him to be able to keep track of everything, but still.
In other news, I’ve continued exercising and though it has only been a few days, I’m feeling pretty confident that I can keep this up. I am only exercising between 10-20 minutes per day, mainly because that’s all I can spare the energy for right now and because Ethan’s schedule is still a little lopsided. I think once I feel a little stronger, I’ll take Ethan with me to our apartment complex’s workout room. He can nap and I can jog! I’m hoping to do the Color Run in September, which is a 5K. I have never run when it wasn’t required by public school, so this is quite an unusual endeavor for me. I figure if anything could convince me to run in a legitimate race, it’s the prospect of being covered in multi-colored powder by the end of it.
Setting a goal like that, silly though it may sound, has made me feel a little better in the face of my anxiety. I think it’s because looking forward to something helps me remember that right now is just that – it’s right now, and it will pass. I know that sounds cliche, but it’s true, and it does help. We’re also planning to go to visit my dad in about a month, which I’m really excited about…a few days at the beach should put me right. Especially if I manage to squeeze into the two-piece I bought last year!
Love crockpots! My mom has been keeping her weight down (she quit smoking and the drs. put her on a medication for her back pain that causes weight gain). by walking 5 miles in 90 minutes almost everyday, which is something you could easily do with Ethan in a stroller
. She also eats this crazy low cal soup with stuff that is supposed to boost your metabolism. I can see if I can get the recipe if you like 
She just cooks it once a week and then has it for lunch and sometimes even dinner for the week. If you have a kinect I like the Your Shape Fitness Evolve, it keeps it interesting with dance classes and goals…though I have been bad about it lately! I am sure you will be stunning in you two piece!
And by easily do, I mean work up to, because I do not think I could walk 5 miles in 90 minutes, and a stoller would surely slow you down!
Soup.
Beef or chicken diced
One onion
Garlic to taste
One zucchini diced
One yellow crook neck squash diced
Two carrots diced or cut into discs
Cabbage as much as you want ( I have recently discovered shredded cabbage in the bag is really easy to add!)
Mushrooms if desired
Beef or chicken broth quart size
V-8 low sodium vegetable juice
One can rotelle tomatoes
Cayenne pepper to taste if you like it spicy
Black pepper to taste
Rosemary
Bay leaf
One packet of Lipton onion soup mix if desired. It gives it a richer taste and some saltyness.
Brown the meat add the onions and carrots sauté until onions are softened. Add garlic and mushrooms. Add all the rest of the ingredients and cook until the vegetables are cooked to your liking. I play around with the veggies and seasonings…and have used vegetable broth and no meat for a vegetarian alternative. I try to keep the veggies low carb…
As typed by my mom!
oh sorry to blow up your blogs comments, but she has lost 40lbs with the soup, weight watchers and walking for 4 months. She doesn’t do the meetings, but and does succumb to her sweet tooth every once in a while, but the soup is so low cal it balances out.
That’s awesome! I’ll give it a shot. Thank you!