Saturday, January 9, 2021

154.8.

Whew. Back into normal territory.

I keep having calf cramps. Actually, i've had them for over a week. It's why I was sure maybe I had covid too (aren't muscle aches a thing?) but I think I'm perpetually dehydrated. And I think that affects my day-to-day scale weight.

Last night we ordered Chinese takeout and then watched "The High Note." Fun movie.

Today I put all the Christmas boxes away except those for the foyer Christmas tree and the outside lights, which are the only Christmas remaining. Every year about this time I think I've maybe overdone it and should minimize. But I also love all of it. My attitude for all these things is "more is more." I just need to try and enjoy the process more. Because you can't have the decorations all hung or all removed without WORK. Hey, good workout, right?

I may hold off on the bouef bourgignonne until R feels a little better. No sense in making it just for me.

DD-you said you just got an IP? Is it the Ninja multicooker or just traditional IP? Different brand? It's quite a steep learning curve IMHO but after you get the hang of it, it can make some things much easier. The very best thing about mine, I feel, is that it can brown food. I love my crockpot, but that's definitely a limitation. Also, because it has the saute setting, you can boil the broth after, making sauces much easier to thicken up with flour or cornstach slurry. There are some basics like hardboiled eggs--everyone swears by this method but for me it'**** or miss. I also have done poached eggs in the IP. Which is unfair to judge because nothing will ever match grandmommy's. Oatmeal. Especially steel-cut oats are quick. (btw unrelated but I have a fabulous "company" oatmeal recipe that's stovetop but so so good). I love the rice cooking feature. I don't have to buy minute rice any longer! The risotto was great. Maybe slightly different from stove top, but worth it for the exchange in time/focus savings. There's also a one-pot spaghetti and meatsauce recipe. I like it but I will warn you that the pasta absorbs most of the sauce so if you're more of "pour sauce on top" it's not for you. Great Asian pork roast. If we didn't smoke meats then I've heard this makes amazing ribs as well as barbecue pork roasts etc. Probably my all-time favorite recipe is for beef stroganoff in the IP. Chili is much easier with browning feature, as well as stews or anything else where you have a soup where meat must be browned. I've made chicken and noodles in the IP. Oh, my other favorite thing is simple mashed potatoes. It definitely makes like easier to have it in the IP. I've tried the egg cups like Sbux makes and they're pretty good. I haven't really made any desserts but I may flirt with that here in the future. Oh and mine is the IP and also has a slow cooker function. I would say for anyone thinking about purchasing one, if you're primarily going to use as a slow cooker, the slow cooker works a little better. (Plus I like the dimensions of mine better). But if you really plan to do both, the IP works! Or be like me and have a slow cooker, a foodie, and an IP. I think the biggest limitation is that you realy don't dump and go and cook all day like in the slow cooker. When I was working, that would've probably been a bit more aggravating. My typical schedule now is to feed the girls dinner, play with them, do their bedtime routine, and then work. So then I typically get everything ready for the IP when the girls are eating, man it while R is helping play with them, and it's ready within 1-1.5 hours when they're asleep.

Liz-That's really cool! I always loved talbots especially when I was wearing size 18 because I actually had options!

Mine is the Ninja instant pot air fryer combo. I'm not super mechanical, so I'm feel in intimidated by it. I'm familiar with the idea of pressure cookers. One thing I considered in the instant pot was bone broth. People seem very excited about roasting a chicken then crushing it with the air fryer... I guess I just need to pick a recipe and try it out. Asian pork roast sounds enticing. I love steel cut oats, maybe that should be my first attempt.

I really want to try to make Vietnamese Pho broth in mine. Basically bone broth with cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, star anise, fennel seed, coriander seed, and fish sauce. I love it so much even plain without rice noodles.

Interestingly, Okc has a very vibrant Vietnamese population. So much good pho! Great, now I WANT it. My vietnamese friend taught me the proper way to eat the pho is to adorn it with the culantro, basil, slices of jalapeno, squeeze of lime. Then you get a small little dish on the side for the rooster sauce and hoisin. Then take your meat, dip into the side sauce. Consume and then quickly collect noodles, gulp down with broth. Divinity.

I wouldn't have guessed there was a large Vietnamese population in OKC! Orange County has the largest number of Vietnamese Americans in the country so we have some tremendous pho around here. The broth is just heavenly. I didn't know that about the meat. I'll try it next time! Right after my sleeve surgery I pretty much lived on pho broth...

I just looked it up.

Okc is only No. 16 largest Vietnamese population. However, of course, Okc is smaller than some of the larger cities on the list. So Vietnamese Americans make up 2% of the Okc population which is a bigger presence than some of the others ahead on the list. Interesting. Who'd have thought. I love visiting the Asian district and exploring other foods, the grocery store, their Lunar New Year celebration

Ok I have that too!

I have really enjoyed the air fryer part of it. Surprisingly, one of my favorites was air-fried shi****o peppers (which we had with a steak). You'll probably want a misto oil spray to use with it.

Admittedly, I don't use my ninja as often because it totally IS intimidating. But in theory it works the same as IP. Since I have both, I typically use the Ninja for either air frying or for larger meals.

I think I would recommend sticking to basic to begin with. Hard-boiled eggs, steel cut oats, rice. Salsa chicken (and I believe its safer to cook with frozen chicken in an electric pressure cooker as opposed to crockpot because it's not at danger zone for very long, which is a big bonus for me), a roast or pork roast, etc. My MIL uses her ninja for everything. She says it can even cook a tv dinner!

163.4

Fighting (not very hard) to gather up some energy to do needed, but not desperately needed, chores around the house, or even some motivation to involve myself in some fun activity of which I have many options. DH and Swann are of absolutely no help at all! DH is watching football playoff games -causing me to have wandered into the room and plop down in the comfy chair. Swann has climbed onto my lap for a nap. I am a sheeple about ready to give in - accept the inevitable and become the model poster child for all potatoslugs in existence.

I'm with you. Except there is much to be done, but I'm wandering around doing nothing. I'm arguing with myself to put on my shoes (boots would be better, but who knows where they are), and go outside and look at the beauty close up. I think I should start a book. Get lost in the pages and maybe get a reset to my scattered thoughts.

Came across this searching for a recipe. Nice

MAGNOLIA MANIFESTO:

We believe that newer isn't always better and that there is something inherently good in hard work. We believe that friends who feel like family are the best kind of friends and that nothing matters more than family. We believe that today is a gift and that every day miracles are scattered about if only we have the eyes to see them. We believe in seeking the balance between hustle and rest and striving to be passionate about both: a leisurely first cup of coffee to start the day mindfully and then at day's end not clocking out from a job 'til you're proud.

We believe failure needn't be a negative thing; rather, we learn from our mistakes and fail smarter next time. We believe in doing work that we love and, in choosing that, nudging others toward doing what they love. We believe in courage, in cartwheeling past our comfort zones and trying something a little bit scary every day. We believe in subtle beauty, the kind that doesn't deteriorate with age or wear.

And of all heroic pursuits large or small, we believe there may be none greater than a life well-loved.