Cooking vs Convenience

I have this little brown box that holds my handwritten recipes, before the easy days of down loading from the computer. I was going through it the other day and was amazed at some of the things in there. Most were so faded, stained, and my mom's Sour Cream Chocolate Chip cookie recipe was half burnt. Then I remembered, that I had cooked it with a batch of cookies and I thought it was funny it had survived. Why I never rewrote it...probably got busy with life. Everything is about convenience these days. I rarely ate out as kid, not because we couldn't but my mom was a great cook. Although, I love to cook... Gregg takes me out quite often on weekends(So many great restaurants in Tampa) but it gives me the chance to come home and try to duplicate the meal.
As you all know, I have been on a strict diet. After talking with a friend, Sue, I started to re-evaluate and increased the calorie count, not a lot but enough I don't feel like death after working out. I also have been reading this book by Jillian Michael's on metabolism, she was saying we are so screwed up because of all the chemicals in processed food. So last week, I started going through the cupboards seeing what I could make that I couldn't buy fresh or organic. I am not turning into a health nut but if I can change just a few things, at least I know what is going into my families bodies. One thing, I have always done that saves time is I plan a menu for two weeks in advance, do we always stick to it...No. Since I love to cook, I have been known to spend hours going over recipes, thinking how to tweak them. Luckily, only a few toxic wastes have happened...LOL.
After shopping, I come home and pre-cut the veggies and separate meat into freezer bags-if we are having hamburgers, I'll form the patties. It is time consuming after you just spent hours shopping but when you go to cook, it is a breeze to pull out that prepared stuff. With Faith's late gymnastic nights, I try to plan crock pot meals, casseroles or different meals that can be cooked in shifts for our crazy schedule. Poor Faith, she can't eat heavy beforehand- so she eats some healthy snacks. Some nights not getting home until 9 p.m., she is starved but I want to make sure she has something good waiting. She needs to refuel after three or more hours of working out.
I found this recipe that has been handed down on the Anthous side of family and came from their Granny Line, she was in her late nineties when she died. We love to make pancakes and waffles on the weekend. I had quite a time finding the buttermilk powder, a store employee and I spent about 20 minutes looking. This is a great recipe and stores for 6 months.

Pancake & Waffle Mix
Mix-8 cups flour
2 cups Buttermilk powder
2 tsp.salt
4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. sugar
( 8 tsp)-2 2/3 tab. baking powder
Mix well and store in tight container for six months.
To make pancakes or waffles-
1 1/2 cups mix
1 cup water
2 eggs
3 tabs. oil
She even added a Pioneer "Maple Syrup"
1 1/2 cups water
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 tsp. maple flavor
Boil for 2 minutes.

I do love to cook and the compliments that come with it. It is also great sitting at the table and sharing stories about your day. Especially, with kids because they grow so fast.

Hannah Montana Military Style

Friday night, was the grand opening of the base theater. They were showing the new Hannah Montana movie- best part it was free entrance. The snacks were very reasonable, the small was the size of a large in a regular theater. For a coke, large candy and popcorn, it was only $5.50.
The theater was well designed to hold about 500 people. The seats rocked and they stair stepped down so you could see well.
Before the movie started they played the National Anthem on the screen, everyone stood and some sang. The teenagers were well behaved, no feet on the seats, chatting loudly, or on their cellphones texting during the movie, I hate that!
We had a great crowd and the movie was great. I was amazed how different it was compared to a public theater. I think we will be going to the base theater from now on.

Bridge in Tampa Park

Simple Woman

Hosted by Peggy @ http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/

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Outside my window... It is dark, the storm has calmed down.

I am thinking...about tomorrow's work out.

I am thankful for...my beautiful family.

From the learning room...it is quiet for the evening. We will be working hard to complete our Math for the year.

From the kitchen...the dishwasher is running. Faith just finished making some hot chocolate.

I am wearing...a cute little night gown I bought in Portland.

I am creating...this post for the first time. I have enjoyed reading some of my friends posts.

I am going...to bed soon.

I am reading...Patricia Cornwell-"All That Remains."

I am hoping...I can be strong the rest of this week with my diet.

I am hearing...the T.V.

Around the house...Faith is watching Smart House and Gregg is checking Elliott's flight for July.

One of my favorite things...is all of us home together.

A few plans for the rest of the week...go to the Casa Bella Biggest Loser workout, home school with Faith early so we can keep up with new gymnastic schedule.

Here is a picture I thought I would share...I took this picture of Faith & Gregg because she is growing up so fast. It won't be long before she won't want him to come play with her because she will be busy with her friends.

Our trip to Idaho

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Update

We had a great time in Idaho visiting my parents and my aunt & uncle. We went to the hot springs, ice caves, and Sun Valley. It was nice to be with my family and we also got to visit with some old friends. My mom and dad's best friends, Chuck and Barbara, live behind them. I have known them since I was very young. One of their sons, Kevin, who is close to my age came down from Boise to visit. It was nice to see him and his family. We also had a chance to visit the church that has been praying for Gregg ever since he started this deployment. It was a great church and everyone was so friendly, it reminded me of the church I grew up in, First Baptist in Felton, California. Oh yeah, we bought property, an acre.

Things have been busy here trying to tie up school for the summer. We will continue to do a few things during the summer, reading, a typing course a friend sent a link to(thanks Sue), and a scrap booking project we had started.

Faith will be busy with many camps, our son Elliott will be here all of July...very excited.

If you noticed my weight ticker hasn't really moved it is because I have stale mated. I lose and gain the same few pounds. I have started the hard core stuff again trying to get body to move...keeping my fingers crossed.
I moved Griff's graduation video to the bottom.

Griffin's Graduation & Commissioning

We had a great time the last 10 days. We flew to Portland where we were greeted by Griffin & Elliott at the airport. Went to a really cool restaurant at a place called Kennedy School. They renovated the school into a restaurant/multiple mini-bars and rooms to stay the night. Very interesting atmosphere.

(Elliott,Griffin & Faith)
Saturday we attended Griffin's Air force commissioning. He is now a 2d Lt. in the Air force. He will be going to Pensacola, Florida this fall to train as a Navigator. The ceremony was an emotional time to see this young boy turn into a man. Griffin has been goal oriented from day one and I know he will have an amazing career. On Sunday, we went to his graduation ceremony. It was about 3 1/2 hrs long, because of so many graduates and the priests were a little lengthy. I included a picture of Gregg catching a cat nap in the video montage. Gregg's mom, Marcia, was able to attend. How neat it must have been to see her son pinned and then her grandson. The cute little redhead with Griffin at the end is Shannon. We wish her luck in her future endeavors in Med school. We celebrated with a dinner at Ruth's Steak House, the food was wonderful and it was nice to be with family. I only wish Kali & Jesse and Nick could have be there too and that the weather could have been nicer..brr.