Gratitude journal # 4

 I am grateful that after two hours this morning, I have a new plan for how J can record videos he wants, have a camera for this purpose, and watch his YouTube channel without the undesired connection between posting videos on said channel. Everyone was safe last night even though there was lots of emotional pain all around and physical pain on my part. He also got is nails trimmed which I advised were a weapon and Tuesday and was not believed. 

A is still sleeping. He needs more than the time before school allows, but hopefully waking up to the digital copy of the new book he wanted will be some consolation. 

I am also grateful that I found this adorable kids movie - Thomas & Friends:The Christmas Letter Express. It’s giving all that’s cute, innocent, and lost at the moment. 

Gratitude journal #3

10.1.25

Lots to be grateful today. 

I'm grateful that despite a yelling and screaming meltdown in the middle of the night, no one or thing came to any harm. 

I am grateful that we are meeting with a new psychologist today, as well as have a checkin call with the psychiatrist. 

I am grateful the computer I am writing on did not break when J threw it on the ground last night. 

A made it to school close to on time and was excited to go because of STEM. 

J is still sleeping and will hopefully catch up on missing sleep. I do not know whether he was truly up so late because he couldn't find the cat whom he takes to bed, doctor anxiety, or what. It generally wraps up into him being far more rigid and is getting "stuck" in his head. This may be worsened due to stress, hormones, or the seeming easy answer that he has too much electronic time. We are seeking a variety of professional help, but I am concerned that the "easy" answer with either hurt him more or the more complex reasons behind it will be missed. Despite popular opinion, I lived with a book in my face as a child and play hours of video games. Many others lived in front of televisions. Those are (now) considered better options by many. To me, it's the same thing, just with different tech. J jumps on his trampoline, practices golf in the yard, cuddles with his cat, as well as divides his time between his 3-4 electronic interests. Definitely more than I and some of my peers who only had books in our hands did, I bet. 

To be continued.....

Gratitude journal - 2

 This was stuck in drafts from late May so I am posting without edits so I can start writing an update. 

——

I thought about posting last week multiple times, but as expected, it just didn’t happen. 

Last week was hella stressful as anticipated, but everything got done. I made both music shows despite J having zero regard for me getting to work. Tuesday he was particularly trying as he was up early, dressed, etc, but just refused to get in the car. He was stuck cuddling on the couch with a cat that didn’t want to be cuddled. But he wasn’t hurting her or being exceptionally annoying—if he could only stay still I bet she would sleep on him. I said I wouldn’t attend his show, which he wanted me to do, but in the end couldn’t stick to it. And he did a great job, for which I’m very grateful. Sure, he got bored towards the end and kept playing with a set decoration, but it’s my understanding it was the third performance of the day so I can’t fault him too much. 

I am grateful that A seemed to not hate his music show, seemingly singing each song and dancing the electric slide like a pro. He did a great job playing a drum resulting in a lovely email from the teacher. She tooted her own horn is referencing her earlier decision to switch his classes, but I could care less how disagreeable people are to me so long as they are kind to my children, which she seems to be. 

I am grateful the boys got to sleep at their grandparents. Since J is staying up late at home and I no longer have a magic ability to get him to sleep, it doesn’t matter as much. Sure the toxic food is a problem, but there have been at least modest efforts to reduce the sugar. Plus, he inhaled 40 grams of sugar at home yesterday because i trusted him to stop wit the fruit snacks. Sure, A stays up too late but he also doesn’t have as much to do on Saturdays. 

Gratitude journal

 I know gratitude journals are not new things. Heck, they might not even be trendy anymore. However, things have been rough lately…pretty much the majority of the school year and I’m feeling a little defeated. So I thought I’d try it. I will likely include a bit about the day or past few days when I inevitably fall behind, but try to keep in mind the goal of remembering the positives. 

Today:

1. I am grateful and marvel that the J insisted on wearing a jacket. At the time, I thought he was bonkers as I had only planned on a sweater and his brother, who lives in a Gorilla Tag sweatshirt, was going without  But he was right and it feels cold and damp, notwithstanding the thermostat. To put it more succinctly, I am grateful that despite his many needs, his instincts towards self preservation are strong  

2.  I am grateful that breakfast was timely eaten and that we had everything we needed despite my lack of weekend prep. On Friday, I was completely out of milk for the first time I can remember, not even almond milk so I was making pancakes with extra yogurt!

3. I am grateful that despite his obstinacy in some instances, me waking A up by yelling (back story is that he slept in and then lazed about while J and I quarreled outside his door over J closing and locking the door, lol) didn’t result in him refusing to comply. He did read me the riot act on my plants, but that’s nothing new.

4. I am grateful that J only bothered one cat this morning and not too terribly. It was also the one who puts up with him the most. 

5. I am grateful that the boys made it to school on time and I made the train.

Yesterday was A, birthday party. J majorally wigged out. Who knows if he was nervous about a party with A’s friends or just in a mood for some other reason. I really didn’t want him to miss it as his dad was coming and bringing his little brother and gf’s son. I knew J likes seeing both the gf and her son, not to mention his dad, so I didn’t want him to miss out. It was pretty horrible though as he hit, threw stuff, broke things, and peed all over the bathroom floor. But for once in my life, I added 30 minutes to our departure time so I was grateful that was actually enough. He also held it together to the end and other than about another 30 minutes of wasted time, not much harm was done. 

I am grateful that I am caught up in furniture building for my aunt’s new house. She might actually get all her boxes unpacked this week which is a feat I’ve never accomplished in my dozen moves. I worry that she left her life of 40 yrs to be with us and want her to be happy here.

Until next time!

Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

A little like a chicken chili, but less hearty, this soup will be sure to warm you up!

Ingredients 

5 cups chicken stock

14.5 oz canned tomatoes

1 medium onion diced

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs

1-2 tsp chili powder

2 tsp cumin

1 tsp paprika 

1 tsp coriander 

1 tsp salt or to taste

1/2 tsp pepper

14.5 oz black beans

2 c frozen corn

Directions 

Add onions, garlic, tomatoes, and stock to pot. Top with chicken and spices. Top with corn and beans. 

Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Quick release. 

Shred chicken and return to pot. Adjust seasoning as necessary.

Serve with shredded cheese or other taco toppings. 

Easy Drop Buttermilk Biscuit

 

This recipe is adapted from Mom on Time Out   Whenever I need a quick carb to go with a meal, these hit the spot.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar 
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup butter, cubed
• 1 egg
• 2/3 cup buttermilk (or 2 tbs + 2 tsp buttermilk powder + 2/3 c water$

Preheat oven to 450 degrees

Whisk dry ingredients together. 

Mix buttermilk and egg and stir into dry. 

On a parchment lined cookie sheet drop biscuits with a muffin scoop.

Bake 10-12 min until golden brown. 

Makes 8 - 10 biscuits. 

No knead cheese bread

 3 cups all purpose flour (or 1.5 c white whole wheat flour and 1.5 c all purpose)

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp dry active yeast

1 1/2 cup Warm water 95F-105F 

1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese

3 tbs fresh herbs (thyme, oregano, rosemary) or 3 tsp dried (I used Italian seasoning)

Mix flours through water until you have a shaggy ball. Cover with plastic and let rise 3-8 hours until doubled (I recommend overnight). 

Preheat a Dutch oven to 450 degrees. 

Turn dough out on a floured surface and fold in cheese and herbs. 

Bake 30 minutes covered, then uncover for  15 minutes until golden. 

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

 1/2 c butter

1/2 c sugar

3/4 c brown sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1 c white whole wheat flour

1 c all purpose flour

1 c rolled oats

1 c chocolate pieces

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt. 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

Beat better and sugars until well-combined. Beat in eggs and vanilla until smooth. 

Stirn in flour, oats, baking soda, salt, and chips. 

Bake 10 - 12 minutes. 

Sweet Chex Mix

 12 oz corn Chex

12 oz rice Chex

12 oz pretzel rods

1 lb butter (can be less, must be enough to coat)

2 c brown sugar (can be less)

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp worcestershire sauce  

Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour, turning occasionally to prevent burning. 

Chicken Tortilla Soup (Instant Pot)

 5 cups chicken stock

14.5 oz diced tomatoes

1 medium onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1-2 tsp chili powder

2 tsp cumin

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp ground coriander

salt and pepper to taste

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken

14.5 oz black beans, drained

2 c frozen corn

1 TBS lime juice, if available

Add stock, onions, tomatoes, garlic, and chicken. Sprinkle with spices. 

Top with beans and corn. Do not stir. 

Pressure cook on high for 9 minutes. Natural release for 5-10 minutes (can hurry this step) .

Remove chicken and shred. Return chicken to pot and adjust seasoning to taste. 

Suggested toppings; Sour cream, cheese, tortilla chips, avocado. 

Lasagna Soup

 1 lb ground beef or turkey

1 clove garlic, minced

3.5 cups beef stock

1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

1/4 c parmesan cheese

1 small onion

1/4 tsp dried parsley

14.5 oz can diced tomatoes

1.5 c mini pasta, uncooked (if not mini, pre-cook)

Saute meat, onion, and garlic over medium-high heat until the meat is well-browned, about 10 minutes. 

Season with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and parsley. 

Stir in broth, tomatoes, and heat to a boil. 

Stir pasta. Reduce to medium and cook for 10 minutes or until pasta is tender.

Stir in cheese and adjust seasoning to taste. 

Whole Wheat No Knead Bread

I finally joined the no knead bread craze (again). A couple of years ago, I remember doing it once or twice with sourdough bread, but fell out of the habit...and my sour dough started died. I love that you can mix it the night before and in the morning have a crusty loaf of bread in less than an hour!

No Knead Bread (adapted from The Scratch Pantry)

1 1/4 c white whole wheat flour

2 c all purpose flour

2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp active dry yeast  

1.5 c water (best is 110 degrees, 105-115 okay)

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl until a dough forms. It may be sticky. 

Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise overnight (12-18 hours). 

With floured hands, form into a ball and place on parchment paper. Allow to rest for 30 minutes or so while you preheat a dutch oven to 450 degrees. 

Place bread on parchment paper into the dutch oven and replace lid. Bake for 30 minutes. 

Remove lid and bake for another 8-10 minutes until golden brown. (If concerned about over-browning, reduce heat to 350. ) Bread is done when it sounds hollow or has reached an internal temperature of 204 degrees. 

Remove from dutch oven and cool on wire rack. 

Italian Wedding Soup

Italian Wedding Soup (recipe adapted from Tracey's Culinary Adventures)

10 cups chicken stock

2 cups water 

4 carrots, cut into 1/2-inch dice 

1 tablespoon (about 3 cloves) minced garlic, divided 

4 cups kale or spinach, chopped  

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving 

2 eggs, lightly beaten 1/2 cup plain bread crumbs 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1/2 teaspoon pepper 

1 lb italian sausage (I used turkey sausage) 

1 1/4 cups small shaped pasta or tortellini

Make mini meatballs: 

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, and spray with nonstick cooking spray. 

Combine the cheese, eggs, bread crumbs, the remaining 1 teaspoon of garlic, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Stir until well combined.  Fold in the sausage, but do not over mix

Use a small cookie scoop to portion the mixture into roughly 1-inch meatballs and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through.

Make soup

Combine the chicken broth, water, carrots, 2 teaspoons of the garlic, and the kale (if using spinach, add at end) in a large pot over medium-high heat. 

Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until the carrots are tender, about 20-30 minutes.

Add the pasta to the soup. Continue simmering until the pasta is tender, about 10 minutes. 

 Add the meatballs to the soup (heat briefly to rewarm if necessary). Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Add cheese for serving. 

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Happy quarantine, stay-at-home, lock-down order, or whatever your state is calling it! Are you doing much baking? With our recent move, home school, teletherapy, and the pesky full-time job, I haven't baked all that much more than usual. But somehow, we're churning through the flours, so I might be understating thing just a bit.

I found this recipe in my collection, just ripped from a magazine or catalog. Unfortunately, no where on the page does it say where it's from, though I'm guessing King Arthur. It's titled"2015 Recipe of the Year," and I was truly impressed. The original recipe was double what I have here. I halved it to require only one stick of butter and make a more manageable number of cookies. Still, it made over 3 dozen delicious, bite-sized cookies! I warn you that they are super chocolatey with a high ratio of chips to dough, which is not a bad thing.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 c granulated sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare cookie sheet by greasing or covering with parchment paper.

Cream butter and sugars together. Add the egg and vanilla, one at a time, beating well after each. Slowly mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir in chocolate chips.

Scoop dough on to prepared baking pan, allowing at least 1 1/2" between cookies, as they will spread.

Bake 12-15 minutes, until golden brown.

I used a teaspoon sized cookie scoop and got at least 40 cookies. They are amazing!