Pity Party

I stepped on the scale. The arrow swung back and forth to land on a number large enough to merit a look behind me. Unfortunately no one had their toe on the scale. It was all me. Anger and frustration welled up and tears threatened to roll.

I hate my sagging wrinkling body. I hate my thighs, my flabby arms, and my poochy stomach. I don't like the way my clothes fit. I can't buy cute clothes because they have to cover every inch of my body.  

In the past month, I’ve had a minor surgery which resulted in a post-op infection. It was followed by a viral illness and then a bacterial infection. The doctor has not released me to workout. Even if she had, I don't have the energy. My weight reflects the hours spent watching PBS and eating comfort food. I looked in the mirror and sighed.

I hate my sagging turkey neck and sun-damaged skin. I hate the pain of arthritis in my back, hips and neck. I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. Getting old is not for sissies.

Belle on ground patrol

I threw on my yoga pants and a t-shirt, made a cup of coffee, and took my pity party outside. I invited my canine companions to join me. They joyously accepted. Evidently they can’t read an invitation. They thought this was a squirrel hunt, not a pity party.

I sipped my coffee and watched the dance of the Chihuahuas commence. Belle stood guard ready to combat militant ground squirrels, while Dustee surveyed the trees for thieving squirrels. The squirrels were totally unfazed. They played a riotous game of chase, running up and down the trees and across the fence. The dogs never got close, but you wouldn’t know it from their ferocious barks. Hummingbirds darted in and out of the yard carrying sips of nectar. First a smile snuck out of my face. Then I began to laugh. 

Dustee ready to attack

The first cool breeze of fall revived my spirits and washed away my frustration. I began to thank God for nature: the trees; the flowers; the dogs; the squirrels; the hummingbirds, and the cool breeze. His creation filled my heart with joy.

A still small voice within me said, “I made you.” A jolt of understanding ran through me. “I knit you together in your mother’s womb. I chose you before you were born. I knew your body would deteriorate. It’s okay. Rejoice in the knowledge that you are more important to me than dogs or squirrels. I love you."

Humbled, I committed not to complain about my body, but instead to respect and care for His creation.

I found these verses comforting:

Matthew 6:25-34The Message (MSG)^25-26 “If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.
^27-29 “Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.
^30-33 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
³⁴ “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

 Happy Fall, Ya'll

Low-Fat Tomato Basil Soup

I love Tomato Basil Soup from a French Bistro. I love it, but it is not conducive to my never-ending efforts to minimize my middle-aged figure.  It is loaded with cream and butter. I have a created a soup that mirrors the flavor without added fat. I clean out the vegetable drawer and use up everything that needs to be recycled into my tummy. It's a great way to sneak in extra veggies and fiber to an unsuspecting husband or child. Get out your stew pot and I'll show you how it's done.

Tomato Basil Soup

In a tablespoon of olive oil saute:

1 cup chopped onions
1 cup of shredded carrots
Add:

2/3 cup minced fresh basil

1 head of chopped cauliflower

2 cans (28 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
2 Tablespoons of Better Than Bouillon (in the soup aisle)
1 cup of water
Simmer for 20 minutes until veggies are tender.

Add:

8 oz. pkg low-fat or fat-free
cream cheese

Puree with stick
blender until smooth.

Add:
2 cups 1% low-fat milk or fat-free Half-n-Half
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

Ladle into bowls. Garnish with basil and serve with bread.
*I like to toast slices of french bread, place one in the bottom of the bowl. Pour the soup over. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top and enjoy!

It tastes better the next day after the flavors have had a chance to blend.  I save my canning jars, put the soup in while warm and store in the refrigerator.  It also freezes well.

This week I took soup to a friend who had surgery and another friend with a newborn. The addition of a pre-packaged salad, fresh fruit, and a loaf of homemade bread made a pretty good spread.
Easy, peasy!

Skinny Chicken Enchiladas

BFF Margie asked me for some waist-friendly recipes. Mission accepted!
I made these yummy enchiladas last week and they passed the "Hubby Test"--i.e. he ate them for dinner and took leftovers for lunch. This recipe makes 8 servings and there are only two of us, so I put half in an 8 x 8" pan and took it to my neighbor. Her teenage daughter paid me the high compliment of suggesting I have magic cooking powers. I love it!

SKINNY CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

Minutes to Prepare: 20

Minutes to Cook: 30

Number of Servings: 8

Ingredients

·         16 oz. fat free Greek Yogurt

·         1 can fat free cream of chicken soup

·         2 Tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro (1/2 T. dried)

·         2 Teaspoons cumin

·         2 jalapenos finely chopped (remove as much of the seeds and white stuff as you want to control heat) (optional-Hubby can’t take the heat.)

·         12 oz. cooked shredded chicken breast (I use leftover rotisserie chicken)

·         1 can Mexican Rotel

·         1 cup chopped onions (optional)

·         16 corn tortillas

·         2 cups reduced-fat shredded pepper jack and Colby cheese blend.

Directions

In a saucepan, mix together yogurt, soup, cumin, cilantro, and jalapenos. Heat through and set aside. This is will get to the bubble up/boil stage quickly and make a huge hot mess if you don’t keep stirring.

Heat onions in a pan sprayed with cooking spray until they are transparent. Combine  with chicken and Rotel,

Warm the tortillas until flexible. (microwave for 10 seconds sandwiched between two damp paper towels.) Fill each tortilla with about 2 tablespoons of the chicken mixture and about 1 tablespoon of cheese.

Roll the tortilla up, place seam side down in a 9×13 dish sprayed with cooking spray.

Spread the yogurt sauce over enchiladas and top with the remaining cheese.

Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes until bubbly and cheese is melted. Garnish with additional cilantro and green onions.

Makes 16 enchiladas. Serving size is 2 enchiladas. (Less than 300 calories per serving)

Gather your ingredients.
I made it easy by using leftover rotisserie chicken.

In a saucepan, mix together yogurt, soup, cumin, cilantro,
and jalapenos. 

Heat through and set aside. This is will get to the bubble up/boil stage
 quickly and make a huge hot mess if you don’t keep stirring.

Heat onions in a pan sprayed with cooking spray until they are transparent. 

Combine with chicken and Rotel,

Warm the tortillas until flexible. (Microwave for 10 seconds
 sandwiched between two damp paper towels.)

Fill each tortilla with 2 tablespoons of the chicken mixture

 and about 1 tablespoon of cheese.

Roll the tortilla up and place seam side down in a 9×13" 

dish sprayed with cooking spray or two 8 x 8" dishes.

Spread the yogurt sauce over enchiladas and top with the remaining cheese.

I took this batch to my neighbor uncooked. She refrigerated it until dinner

time and then baked it at 350°F for 25-30 minutes. 

 She kindly took a picture for me!

BAM, Margie! Mission accomplished.

Burp Cloths for Baby!

It must have been a cold winter cause we are seeing a bumper crop of babies this fall. With new babies comes baby showers. I like to make handmade blankets, silkies, and pillowcases for our precious additions. I created this basket for my beautiful friend, Amy. Her baby girl will be born this Friday. She opted to have a shower after the baby is born, so along with the handmade items I put together a few necessities: diapers, towels, washcloths, wipes, shampoo, baby wash, and lotion. As you can tell I found a few other surprises to go in my basket. After I delivered my basket of goodies, I realized I forgot to make burp cloths! This is an easy project you can make in 20 to 30 minutes. 

Buy cloth diapers

Iron flat.

Measure length of diaper

and width. Cut decorative fabric one
inch longer and one inch wider than
diaper. Mine was 5 x 20 inches.

Press under 1/2 inch on each side. If you don't sew use
fuseable tape to iron the fabric onto the diaper,

Or turn the fabric over and pin it to the diaper,

And use a decorative or zig-zag stitch.
on all four sides. You are finished!

Instead of fabric, I sometimes buy a 99 cent bandana to apply to the diaper. 

I can get three burp cloths
from one bandana.

For this little boy, I put the necessities
in a basket for momma to carry from
room to room as she needs to change him. 

As you can see, not everything fit
into the basket. I love babies and
sometimes I get carried away!