Cooking Pinto Beans

The women in my family can cook a pot of beans!  Growing up, creamy pinto beans with tender neckbones or a piece of salt pork with a side of my grandmother's fried chicken and her hot water cornbread was one of my most favorite meals!

When I was first out on my own I never made beans but now as a real deal adult I can't get enough! Black beans, pinto, white and a good bean soup mix...gimme!  Lucky for me nobody in my house likes beans, so when I make a pot they are all mine.  While I don't eat or cook with neckbones or salt pork any longer, I am not above a smoked hamhock for flavor only.

For this pot, however, I'm using smoked turkey meat, onions, homemade salt-free chicken broth and a spice mix of garlic powder, thyme, basil, salt and pepper.  With this cool weather we are having these will be great lunch for the week!  

What beans are your favorite to eat and/or cook?

   
 

Confessions #NoUrsher

These past three weeks or so have been cah-razy at my mortgage paying job. I have questioned my sanity, intelligence and choice of employment so many times.  I mean 12 hour days 6 days a week for three weeks.  My house is a wreck, a hot mess wreck! I don’t think I’ve been to the grocery store for a real deal food shopping experience in a month.  I mean I will easily drop $500 when I go next. #NoLie We are out of nearly everything…even my frozen stash is about out.  It’s bad y’all.

To that end, our diets have been a catastrophe…a processed food catastrophe.  How I loss 5lbs a couple of weeks ago is beyond me!!  So imagine our not so surprise when our bodies started reacting to this abrupt change in diet. Sluggishness and headaches abound; along with yells of “use the spray” whenever anybody went to the bathroom after these not so gourmet meals.  I am not proud and I have no excuses. Apparently, my family has had enough. They are literally begging for a fully, homemade meal.  It is so bad B was like, “Maybe we can just eat vegetables for a couple of days to get our bodies back right.”

That kid may be on to something! LOL

So even though I have less than a week left of this 12 hour day madness, I will make a quick trip to the grocery store to buy some staple stuff that will allow me to whip up good, healthy, quick non-processed meals.  I have also started a two week menu plan (trying something new) filled with brand new food items along with my grocery list that is currently three pages long.

*wallslide*

I am also going to take this opportunity of pantry refrigerator emptiness to clean and organize. I mean a for real organization, like painting shelves, getting a new door, utilizing baskets and labels and such. I would like a new to me refrigerator also but my current bulky one is still working just fine sans the water and ice dispenser.  It’s just big and bulky and old, like original to my 20 plus year old house old…but it still works just fine…and I’m still cheap frugal.

So in between crunching numbers and late nights, I will be formulating my plan of attack on my ratchet pantry and fridge! I will keep you posted.

A Family Business

I’ve always wanted to own a family business. A business that played to the strengths of the family members I would invite into the business. A legacy business mind you. One where long after I retired our children or other family members would want to continue on. I have the mind to create generational wealth for my children and their children.

My baby sister is very creative (her design eye is killer) and budget mindful. I mean she is the Thrift Store Queen! She’s also a good listener and a great team player. I have a cousin who I learned is a great organizer and general task keeper and team player. She is also funny and enjoyable to be around. My oldest daughter is a great manager of me and organizer. I've told her on many occasions that if money were no object I would hire her at top dollar as my assistant. She’s that good. I cook. I plan menus. I bake. I can work a budget down to the last nub to give a client what they want.

The awesomeness that the four of us could create would be mind blowing.

We've talked about it in jest before but logistically it wouldn't work; Sis lives in OH ND…and is married with three great kids of which two are under 3 years old; cousin is busy with professional educational pursuits and is married has two wonderful boys. My daughter is completing her education and is doing the preliminary research to open her own “learning center”….The Bruce School. I love it!

Though my sister and I will be working jointly on an event soon and my cousin is always ready to help me out, I know I can begin building this business on my own and I would have their full support. We are good like that.

I hope you are doing something today to further your dreams and goals.

Fresh Trout Almondine

 

This was a Weeknight Winner! Came together easily, on the table in less than 30 minutes. Rainbow trout is pretty thin so it takes no time to cook through.

 

 

Fresh Trout Almondine

Adapted from

http://newfinmysoup.blogspot.com/2011/05/trout-amandine-from-my-new-orleans.html

 

What you need:

• 3/4 cup milk
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1 Tbs creole seasoning, or to taste (Zatarain, Tony Cachere, etc)
• 3 trout fillets 
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 8 Tbs unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

What to do:

• Pour the milk into a shallow dish.
• Put the flour and Creole Spices into another breading tray and stir to combine.
• Season the fillets with pepper, dip them into the milk, then dredge in the seasoned flour.
• Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the fillets and cook on each side until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer the fish to a serving platter.
• Add the remaining 4 tablespoons butter to the same skillet over medium-high heat.
• Swirl the skillet over the heat so that the butter melts evenly and cook until the butter turns brownish and begins to smell nutty, 5-7 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the almonds, and cook, stirring gently, until the nuts are toasty brown, about 2 minutes.
• Add the lemon juice and parsley.
• Spoon the browned butter and almonds over the fish and serve.

 

 

Originally posted August 2011 on www.threefoodwords.blogspot.com

Happy Monday

One of the Awesomes sent this to me a couple of weeks ago. Happy Monday!
Quit Complaining!
I AM THANKFUL:  FOR THE WIFE  WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,  BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,  AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE. 
FOR THE HUSBAND  WHO IS ON THE SOFA  RESTING AFTER A HARD DAY OF LABOUR ,  BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME  AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS. 
FOR THE TEENAGER  WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES  BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,  NOT ON THE STREETS. 
FOR THE TAXES I PAY  BECAUSE IT MEANS  I AM EMPLOYED . 
FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY  BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE  BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS. 
FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG  BECAUSE IT MEANS  I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT. 
FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK  BECAUSE IT MEANS  I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE 
FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,  WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,  AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING  BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME 
FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING  I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT  BECAUSE IT MEANS  WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. ... 
FOR THE PARKING SPOT  I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT  BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING  AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION . 
FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL  BECAUSE IT MEANS  I AM WARM. 
FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH  WHO SINGS OFF KEY  BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR. 
FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING  BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR. 
FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES  AT THE END OF THE DAY  BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN  CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD. 
FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF  IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS  BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE. 
AND I AM THANKFUL:  FOR THE CRAZY PEOPLE I WORK WITH   BECAUSE THEY MAKE WORK INTERESTING AND FUN!               AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL  BECAUSE ...  IT MEANS I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME. 
Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart! 

Chermoula Spiced Chicken

While Autumn introduces new dishes in our regular menu rotation, I have gotten bored with our regular menu rotation.  So I've been revisiting some recipes I've tagged in various magazines, cookbooks, or websites that I have yet to make.

This really easy chicken recipe is one of them. It is full of really good for you spices, like tumeric and cumin and really doesn't take a lot of time to come together. Oh and once you read over the ingredients list you'll see there is NO SALT and you won't even miss it!

Chermoula Spiced Chicken
Adapted from http://blog.seasonwithspice.com/2011/11/charmoula-spice-roasted-chicken-recipe.html

What you need:

• 4 pieces of chicken leg (thigh & drumstick) or 6 pieces of chicken thighs
• 1 small red onion, chopped
• 4-5 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
• 1 tablespoon dried or fresh parsley leaves, chopped
• 1 tbsp ground turmeric
• 1/2 tbsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tbsp ground coriander seeds
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• dash of cayenne or red chili flakes, optional
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 tsp lemon zest, optional
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste

What to do:

• Blend the chopped onion, garlic and fresh herbs using a food processor
• In a bowl, combine the blended mixture with all the spices.
• Then add the olive oil, lemon juice and lemon zest. Mix well until you obtain a yellow paste.
• Make 2-3 light scores on each chicken piece. This will allow the chermoula marinade to get all up in the chicken! Rub them thoroughly with the chermoula paste. Marinate for one hour at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator.
• Preheat oven to 375F.
• Place the marinated chicken on baking sheet and sprinkle with freshly ground pepper. Roast for 40-50 minutes.
• Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the chicken before serving, optional.
• Be sure to let the chicken rest for a few minutes to allow the juices to redistribute!
  
  
  
  

  

  
  

Fine by Birthday Time #2

It is probably retained water loss but I will take it! Just need to keep this losing streak going!! How are you doing with your goals?

Pinterest to the Rescue: The Fashioneata Files

When B was about 4 or 5 years old, she announced to her dad and I that she was glad she was a "fashioneata"  I laughed so hard I cried! Fashioneata? Really???? 

She has always been aware of her 'look' and has always been fairly fashion forward.  I have no idea where she gets this from because her dear mother is neither a fashionista or "fashioneata" This is reason 4,524,128,685 that I love Pinterest...fashion boards!

Pinners usually use Polyvore to create looks and then place them on Pinterest. Polyvore is so awesome it even gives you the prices for the items.  Now being the bargain shopper that I am, I can easily replicate the fashions I like for less.

So an occasional segment on Southern Girl City Swirl will be The Fashioneata Files where I will take an outfit from Pinterest and recreate it for less. B is loving this! LOL

Here are a few of my favorite looks. You can follow my 'My Style' board here and my 'I Love My Legs' board here which is dedicated to dresses cause I LOVE a hot dress/skirt.

Wordless Wednesday: Grilled Salmon Tacos

Fine by Birthday Time #1

**Editor note - I should have posted this weeks ago on September 12th. Due to my crazy work schedule that did not happen. However, this is still very relevant to my goal.**


So earlier this week I stepped onto this (here on referred to as Mister):

And got this O_O:

I stepped onto Mister again to be sure that number was correct and it was all “Do like I tellya”!!

I immedJETly went out and purchased new running shoes a pair of regular workout shoes. I gathered some gear that had been sitting on a shelf in my garage, I cleaned up my workout play list, made sure my Couch25k was updated and set a goal:

 20 by 12/12

Fine by Birthday Time!

Can I tell y’all how disgusted I was when that number popped up on Mister??? I was so disappointed in myself.  Last year in November I was about 190 give or take. I was looking goodT, jeans were falling off, I was >>>thisclose<<< to sliding (instead of squeezing) into size 14 then BOOM.  I got holiday comfortable. I ate more than I exercised, that five pound gain that would have been easier to lose turned into a 37lb gain. I got lazy as hell.

I feel every one of those extra pounds too. I am far more fatigued, my knees ache and my stomach has this bottomless pit thing going on, I mean I eat and eat! I hate it! More importantly I am really diappointed in myself, I fell off the wagon and I fell hard.  What I know for sure though is I really do feel better after working out and I know working out is KEY to my weight loss and maintenance.

So, the goal for the next 90 days is to lose 20lbs. Ninety days from 9/12 is 12/12, my actual born on date.  I will keep track of my progress on the blog every Wednesday. Y’all better watch me work! Fine by Birthday Time is officially in full affect around 18082!

What are some things YOU do to make exercising a regular part of your life or to simply be healthier?