Delicious Recipe?

Since my June 4th post, I have been trying to make better food choices. Mainly, I've been having smoothies or fruit for breakfast and trying not to eat grains.

So, I made a delicious soup last night. I had bought kale and was searching for a recipe on-line to try and went to a website where I could enter in ingredients that I have and it would ask me if I had others, so I clicked on them if I had them and it gave me this delicious sounding recipe: Portugese Kale and Potato Soup.

Here is the way I typically follow recipes: (First of all, I pretty much don't measure anything)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided (I used ghee)
1/2 pound chouriço or linguiça (smoked Portuguese sausages) or kielbasa, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (I used a can of chicken)
1 medium onion, chopped (I used half an onion)
2 garlic cloves, minced (I didn't have fresh garlic, so I used Garlic Spread seasoning)
1 pound russet (baking) potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces (I used 5 small red pototaoes)
6 cups water (I used 2 or 3 C water, then added an 18 oz. carton of butternut squash soup)
1 pound kale, stems and center ribs discarded and leaves very thinly sliced (I around 5 ounces of kale and at least that much spinach)

Using ghee, I browned my canned chicken right in the pot I used for the soup, then added my onion and let it get shiny. Then I added the water and potatoes and a can of kidney beans. Then, I added the butternut squash soup and let it simmer for 20 minutes, then added the kale and spinach. I also added sesame seeds, lemon pepper, a few drops of lemon essential oil, and some whispers of ginger powder, curry powder, garam masala, and parsley flakes. Actually, I used a lot of parsley on the chicken, before adding other stuff.

I think that is all I added.
Here's how mine looked:

It was pretty delicious, if I do say so myself. I just don't know if I can fully recommend the recipe that I used as inspiration. It was useful in telling me how long to cook the potatoes and then add the kale later and how long to cook that, so I am happy I found it.

Kids Will Keep You Humble

This cute little six-year old said to me, "Mom, I think some people in the world might think you look ugly," and give me this sweet smile.
I was smiling back at him as he said this, I tried to keep my facial expression unchanged as I brilliantly said, "Oh."
As an afterthought to entertain myself further, I asked, "Why?"
He replied, "I don't know. It seems like nobody thinks they look ugly."

On the other hand, my 16 year-old son paid me the nicest compliment today, when I returned home after running errands for a couple of hours. He said, "It seems like things go better when you're here, even if you're not in the room."
I asked him, "Like what?"
And he said, "It just seems like people are happier."

Nothing to see here

My sister-in-law's sister, or in other words, the sister of my brother's wife, is a runner. She has run several half marathons and full marathons. She's my age, though I'm older since by birthday is in the first quarter of the year and hers is in the third or fourth quarter of the year.

I've known her since we were 13. We'll call her Kim. Today she posted on Facebook, "If you've ever felt any inkling or desire to run a marathon TODAY is the day you should start your training for my birthday marathon extravaganza. Go out and run 1-3 miles. Don't forget to smile it helps relax your shoulders and improve your running form. Stay tuned for more information later today."

Well, I've never felt an inkling to run a marathon, but I did to a short Triathlon once, since my sister is a personal trainer, she has to stay fit and when she first decided she wanted to start doing races and things, she invited me to train with her. Shortly after we started training we each became pregnant, so I did the Tri for Fun five months pregnant. The swim was only a quarter mile, but it nearly killed me. I'm not that strong of a swimmer and having a big belly weighing be down... I did the backstroke instead. Then, my granny bike, which had no gears, was losing air in the tire, so that was hard. We switched bikes about half way through the 14 miles. Hers is a racing bike, meaning the feet clip to the pedals and the seat is extremely uncomfortable! Really how do people sit on those tiny things? Then for the run, we weren't sure where the beginning of it was, because we were so late starting that portion that there were no longer people directing us where to go, so we went up in the low hills and ran around, or rather walked for a bit, then came back out, not really doing the full three miles, but we did it!

Anyway, that was the beginning and end of my racing career.

However, I'm tired of being overweight and out of shape! Kim's words caught me on a good day, because it is overcast. I like to walk/jog/run in overcast weather. I hate sweating. Plus, when I said, "I don't think I've ever had in inkling to run a marathon, because I don't like running. But I want to like running!" She said, "You should train with me for this marathon. I'll help you LOVE running."

I told her, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a runner."

But, I decided I needed to start TODAY! Even though it was raining this morning. I asked my little kids if they wanted to go for a walk in the rain with me, my three year old (always the most eager to help me) said, "Oh, I need to get my shoes and my umbrella!" But we didn't leave right then.

I waited until my baby was ready for a nap, and then I held her napping for a while. And then I was in danger of not going, because her nap was going to end too soon, so I forced myself to put her down, nursed her for a bit to comfort her and get her settled, then changed the three year old, got his shoes and my shoes and umbrellas for three of them.

By then it wasn't raining anymore and my big kids could babysit, since I knew they wouldn't be willing to go with me.

Off we went. I had mapped out a three mile loop around the neighborhood, but they played at the park, that is almost a mile away, while I did some sprints, then when we tried to continue, the 6 year old tripped and skinned his already skinned knee, so then he wanted to go home. He didn't cry, just whined about wanting to go home every couple minutes. So, I took pity on him and decided we would head home, which made my three year old break down and cry. He wanted to stay at the greenbelt.

Oh, I was ready to leave them all home next time!

But, I gave Trevor a piggy back ride for part of the way, and that cheered him up, except for my hair getting in his face, so then he walked again and when he found a stick, then he was happy.

We made it back home about an hour and ten minutes after we had left. I only sat down once to get a tiny pebble out of my shoe and to try swinging. My tummy and head just can't handle swinging on a short swing anymore! Takes my tummy away and makes my head feel the same. Me no likey.

If well begun is half done, then we are half done with training for a marathon. Ha! I still have no desire to run that far, but we'll see.

I heard a talk on TED that said that you shouldn't tell people your goals when you are first starting out, because then people say, "Well good for you!" and things of that nature which makes us feel as good as if we already completed our goal, so then we no longer feel the need to actually do it because we already have the good feeling! I thought that was interesting. So, I shouldn't really be posting this now.

hmm...
So, nobody tell me I'm doing a good job.

It goes against the latest pop culture theory that you should tell everyone your goal, so that they can all help hold you accountable to it. But, really people are too nice, or we don't like their nagging.

So, quietly keep your goals to yourself and accomplish them!
Good thing nobody reads this, except my Mom.
Hi MOM! I love you.