A Relaxing Day

What a nice day I had! I awoke around 9:30 and all was quiet. The kids had been fed, Paul was out running and the animals didn't pester me. It was definitely time for coffee. I love my coffee grinder and coffee maker, so I decided it was indeed time for 6 cups of freshly ground, freshly brewed java. The weather was delightful, so I enjoyed my beverage in the sunroom. After lounging around most of the morning, Scotty was invited to a friend's house and Alex had a buddy over. I decided it was indeed time for a pre-work nap followed by a relaxing shower. Scott G. made nachos for our Sunday work-night dinner....what a great day!

Yet Another Delightful Ice Cream Experience

This is a little bit of Shelly's recipe and a little bit of mine. It was OH-SO-GOOD!

Mixed-Berry Cheesecake Ice Cream

1 C Vanilla Silk Soymilk
2 scoops Protein Powder, Maximum Protein Vanilla (found at GNC)
1 T Jello Pudding mix, SF Instant Cheesecake Flavor
1 T reduced fat cream cheese, softened
2 T SF DaVinci's Vanilla Syrup
1/2 C Frozen Mixed Berries

Combine all ingredients (except berries). Mix until frothy and pour into prepared ice cream freezer bowl. I ran mine for about 12 minutes, then added the slightly thawed berries and continues the cycle for about 5 more minutes. Scoop it into a freezer-safe container for about 30 minutes - 1 hr. and enjoy. Be careful or you might end up like this.

The Big "O"....Culinary Style!

I made my first batch of protein ice cream in my NEW, fancy-schmancy Cuisinart Ice Cream maker. Oh my! It was as good as, if not better, than I expected! Here is the recipe I used;

Shelly's Peanut Butter Cup Protein Ice Cream

1 C vanilla soy milk (I use Silk Regular Vanilla - if it's good enough for Starbuck's, it's good enough for me!)
2 scoops chocolate protein Powder (I use Whey Gourmet)
1 T melted peanut butter (Jiff, of course)
3 sugar-free Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Mix soy milk, p.b. and powder together 'til frothy. Poor into freezer and let it work it's magic. About 5 minutes before it's done, add Reeses bits. Voila!

It took less than 20 minutes to make. I wanted it a little more firm...no so soft-serve so I plopped it in the freezer for a while. I left it in too long so zapped it in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Delightful!!!!!

Tonight I am going to tweak one of Shelly's recipes and do a mixed berry cheesecake ice cream. AND Scotty wants Chocolate Frozen Yogurt. I just hopped on Ebay and ordered an extra freezer bowl. I'm gonna need it.

Hitting The Wall

Have you ever reached a point in your life where you feel you are doing all the wrong things. Despite my best efforts to be a good mom, good and wife, good employee, actively involved in the kids' activities I feel I am failing at all of them. I have a very high sense of frustration at the moment. The world, or at least my world, seems to be in a state of chaos on a daily basis. There is no regular routine at work. I run all over the region since we have no "working" hospital....only an ED that accepts "basic" level patients. Soccer rules our lives 4 nights a week....and soon to be most weekends as well. I try to keep up with the rat race, but I keep losing.

The pity party is pathetic....I know. But I needed to vent. The end.

A New Toy!

I just ordered a new toy..nooooo....not that kind of toy. Get your mind out of the gutter! It's a Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker. I have been wanting one for AGES! There is an amazing blog I stumbled upon titled, The World According To Eggface. She is a "foodie"and has incredible recipes she created herself that are weight-loss surgery friendly. My favorite recipes are the "bites." They are like mini crust-less quiches. So delicious!!!!! After wandering through her blog I found the ice cream recipes...all high protein, low carb (made with soy milk, protein powder, flavored s.f. syrups and other goodies) and she claims they are delicious. I decided that I will be the judge of that and ordered the ice cream maker. Being the "instant gratification girl" that I am, I want it now! But I will have to wait. Once I start making ice cream, I will let you know the results. I cannot wait!!!!! Ice cream that's good for you....go figure!

Good Ol' School Days

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Yes, back to school time! The kids were excited to get back and see their buds. They were both non-stop talkers after they got off the bus. Scotty even had Math Homework. That's just not right on the first day...lol.

Slooooooooow Down

Yes, it's that time again. Back-to-school, PTO, soccer and back to work (for me). Despite my pledge not to over-extend myself, I find I am falling back into those old habits of saying "yes" and volunteering for things before I think them through. I love volunteering and helping out. ButI have spent the day on the computer getting Scotty's soccer team info organized (I am their team manager) and the details are changing daily, sending emails for Back-to-school night (even though I am not the Market Day Diva this year), double checking our supply list and prepping for meetings. I am feelin' the stress! I find I am a bit of a perfectionist with these things and want to get it right. God forbid anyone think I am incapable or a slacker!!!!! Character flaw? I think so! I have even taken to screening my home phone calls. We don't utilize caller ID on the home phone so I just let it roll to voice mail. Slacker!

7 Strange Things

Thanks to Kathy over at Life With The Riddles, I have been tagged to share 7 "little known things" about myself. So here it goes. Please don't judge me by my oddities! lol

1. I have always had a secret (or not so secret) lusting after Tom Selleck. Why? He's tall, dark and handsome...has gorgeous eyes...and well, he's just SCHMOKIN' HOT!
2. My new snack food of choice is melted cheese. Weird? Probably....but mmmmmmm.
3. I can make an iced latte that is as good as - or better - than Starbuck's!
4. I am an incurable bookworm. I really LOVE to own, rather than check-out books from the library. But the library is MUCH cheaper...so most of the time I make due with borrowing-approach.....sometimes.
5. I am the "instant gratification girl!" I want what I want...and I want it now! Watch out Tom! lol
6. Watching my children play, read, sleep,etc. fills me with such emotion that I am sometimes moved to tears. I never knew that one could love so deeply.
7. I truly feel that lattes ought to be a food group....see #3.

OK....not too weird, huh? Some things are just not meant to be shared....too much info is never a good thing! lol