Love Story

My reading time is usually just before I go to bed.  It makes me sleepy, so it's difficult to get through too many books.  I try to read one a month, usually the one for my book club, but even those are often half finished.  Even really good books take me forever to read.  Last weekend I devoured one.

This wasn't the best book I've ever read, and it's not the kind of book I usually read, but the planets just aligned.  I couldn't put it down and I've been thinking about it ever since.  It's written by Ree Drummond, a long time blogger.  I had visited her blog a few times, but now I want to keep up with her even more.  The book is The Pioneer Woman Black Heels to Tractor Wheels.

It's the story of meeting, falling in love, courting, getting married, and having a baby.  It's a love story.  She's funny and it's a feel good book.  It reminds you what falling in love feels like, and how you should feel about your man.  Besides, it's a cowboy story.

I hadn't heard about the Black Heels book, but just a couple weeks ago I had bought her cookbook for my friend's birthday present.  Before I gave it too her, I had tried a couple recipes.  They were very good.  I've been told though, that I tried the wrong ones.  Her cinnamon roll recipe is suppose to be life changing.  My friend took them to a church event and was asked to give up her job and just make cinnamon rolls for a living.  I'll have to give them a try.

Yo Yo

I’m battling my weight this summer and so far the pounds are winning.  Here’s the problem:

• I’m cooking dinner every night.
• I’m trying new recipes.
• We have left-overs for lunch.  That makes 2 big meals a day.
• The cookies, whoopi pies, buttermilk muffins, buttermilk syrup, and caramel frosting have been big hits.
• We had a 3 day family reunion with 5 big meals.
• We went to Education Week and Big Sky.
• We went camping and ate well all weekend.

But I’m really tired of seeing the same pounds creep back on, so I’m doing Weight Watchers (unofficially) with a friend.  The accountability and support help a lot.  She’s doing great!  She’s also writing down everything she eats, and trying harder.  I’ve been up 3 times and down once.  Hopefully I’ll get fully engaged mentally with this process because:

• Our summer guests are moving out and I won’t be cooking so much.
• School is starting and I won’t have time to try new recipes.
• A different routine and schedule has to be better than the one I’ve been on this summer.
• I won’t be traveling or celebrating as much.

I’m putting it down in writing here to help get me on track.  I’m sure all three readers of my blog will be waiting anxiously for updates.  I’ll keep you posted.

I Love Mac and Cheese

I read Joy the Baker's blog and when she makes something without butter and sugar she says, "Get your healthy pants on."  Well, I got my healthy pants on and tried the sneaky chef's mac and cheese.  I used whole wheat macaroni, a puree of zucchini and steamed cauliflower, rice milk, lowfat cheese, and a crumb topping with wheat germ and Earth Balance (a vegan butter substitute).  It was good.  It wasn't creamy like Stouffer's, but we liked it.  We liked having our healthy pants on.