Slow Cooker Queso Chicken Tacos

 This was a hit in my house with EVERYONE who tried it.  So the exception was Two, my vegan.  

Highly highly recommend and super easy.  

Slow Cooker Queso Chicken Tacos

Now comes the what I did different part, as you all expect from me. I rarely follow a recipe exactly (unless it's baking cause that's easy to mess up.)  This one is probably BOMB made a variety of ways, truthfully.  

I used chicken thighs.  I used vegetable broth.  Our little small town grocery store didn't have green chiles that day, so I just omitted it.  I've left it out every time I've made it, because it was so good without it.  But, maybe I'll throw them in next time.  Who knows.  

I also made Goya Mexican Rice and we mostly ate it over rice, instead of as tacos.  

It was super easy, delish, and requested again.  5 stars.  

The Best White Bean Chili

Vegetarian White Bean Chili

We love chili in our house.  We make your regular run of the mill version of chili (beef, tomato, beans,) and a delicious black-eyed pea chili variation.  We have tried multiple white bean chili recipes over the years and just never found one we liked. 

Until now. 

This is the best one, BY FAR.  Even though the recipe is labeled vegetarian it is 100% vegan with no adaptations needed.  I think the marketing department just knows people flip out when they see the word vegan so they wisely held off on the label. 

We didn't make any changes to the recipe, except to add more spices as the recipe only calls for oregano.  *eye brown raise*  I definitely used cumin and chili powder, as well as some dried cilantro. 

I had a terrible migraine this night, and Two had to finish making it as I could no longer be upright and had to be at work later that night (where I cried because I was in a tremendous amount of pain, super fun times.)  I didn't get to eat any of it the first day, but she reported that both her and her brothers liked it a lot.  I got to have the leftovers the following day for lunch and they weren't wrong.  Yum! 

Intermittent Fasting

Since moving to 3rd shift, which coincidentally coincides with the canceling of my cardio classes, I've put on weight.  If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know I try to be healthy (with balance, I love ice cream and pancakes more than anything!)  I've completed 7 Spartan races, and I teach dance fitness 4 times a week.  I don't own a scale, I use my clothes and how I feel as the guide to where my weight is.  And currently, I'm pretty displeased.  My clothes all still fit, but, I'm not comfortable in them.  I really dislike the way I look without them on.  I tend to gain weight around the middle as my thighs are already pretty THICC.  Nobody wants a chubby waist.  No one. 

I follow a functional medicine doctor, also a fellow cardio dance instructor, on IG and FB.  Dr. Lauren Fitz if you want to look her up.  I've been following her for years just to be clear, she's not someone I just found and decided to jump headfirst into following.  Last week she did a series of posts on IF and its benefits to the body.  I have a work kid (I somehow adopt the kids I work with) that I watched have amazing success with IF last year, but put on 25 pounds after finding a girlfriend and has now gone back to IF to try to rid his body of those pounds.  So I had some experience with the concept, but I eat A LOT so I just couldn't really imagine myself diving in. 

After listening to Dr. Fitz, I thought it is at least worth a try, right?  It's only been a week.  But, so far so good guys.  I'm working up to a 16-8 fasting window.  Currently at 14-10.  I started at 12-12.  I fast the entire time I'm at work overnight because normally I'd be sleeping anyway.  It gets a little dicey around 2 am truthfully.  Dr. Fitz told me though that feeling of hunger usually only lasts 20 minutes and I just chant that to myself when I start to get hangry.  It passes.  I'm proud of my resolve because as I stated earlier I eat a lot.  I mean often.  Every couple of hours normally at least. 

IF has also caused me to be more aware of what I'm putting in because it occurred to me that I should probably be more mindful of what I'm eating first thing when I'm breaking a fast.  Since I'm so used to eating every few hours, it didn't occur to me before because I was just always eating something.  But after NOT consuming anything for 14 hours, I feel like I need to give my body more nutrient based things right from the jump.  Here's a list I found and have been using to remind myself of what to eat first thing. 

Foods to Eat When Breaking Your Fast

My main goal is to kick-start my metabolism again and hopefully burn some fat.  However, this isn't the only thing I'm doing.  I also realized the correlation with stopping my classes, so I've been determined to move more this week too.  I am often exhausted after work, I walk 5 miles each night at work (I'm not even kidding) and my feet HURT.  Hurt so much I've even purchased special toe-flexing socks to wear during my off time to help with the pain.  Adding in dancing or running didn't seem like a lot of fun, and those are my main sources of exercise.  Yesterday I danced.  And it was only the 2nd time since my classes got canceled in the middle of March.  So twice in a month, when I used to dance 4 times a week.  I was DRENCHED at the end of just 30 minutes (my classes are usually an hour but I was dead at the 30-minute mark and decided to be kind to myself.)  Today, I plan to dance--I'm working on my Return To Class After Quarantine Playlist--and hopefully at least walk, maybe a short run.  Running is BY FAR the quickest way for me personally to lose weight.  I can drop a few pounds in a week if I can get in a couple runs. 

If you're interested in learning more, I suggest you follow Dr. Lauren Fitz on IG and FB and go back in her posts to look for all the information she shared last week.  Here is a quick link to some of the benefits:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327398#how-to-do-it

Lazy Housewife: Italian Meatball Soup

Italian Meatball Soup

This recipe uses frozen ready to use meatballs, and I feel that.  Of course, we used Meatless Meatballs by Gardein (which is our favorite vegan brand.) We also used vegetable broth instead of beef broth, and Two didn't add any parm to hers.  We had it with garlic butter (actually plant-based butter of course) crescent rolls.  We also took one of the suggestions and added pasta.  We used ditalini because that's my favorite for soups because of its small size.  I put in a lot of seasoning:  Italian seasoning, extra rosemary and oregano, and a whole lot of red pepper flakes since the boys aren't home!

Two and I both LOVED this one.  Can't wait to have the boys try it out.  My very carnivorous boyfriend also had a bowl after making this face:

He also thought it was really good, after his initial protest.  So good in fact that he talked about it the following day with his coworkers.  I don't know why everyone is so shocked that vegan food can be delish!

I don't know what day it is...

But I'm not sure if this is a COVID problem or a 3rd shift problem.  Let me check my phone. 

Hey!  Welcome to Monday! 

I'm going to share a recipe with you guys, as I've been cooking more during quarantine because for the first 3 weeks my boys were with me 24/7 so I had to cook literally every day.  I know a lot of you do this all the time...but I normally only have my boys half the time and Two cooks for herself (or both of us) a lot so I really only am required to cook a few times a week.  It has given us the opportunity to try new recipes though, and like the Vegan Stuffed Pepper Soup I shared last, this one is a keeper for us! 

Simple Vegan Taco Pasta

Here's what I changed, per usual. 

Better Than Bullion No Beef Base, Soyrizo and Vegan Cream Cheese are not things I can get in this little town I live in, so I just omitted the cream cheese and soyrizo and just used veggie broth in place of the bullion.  We put in "beefless ground" in place of the soyrizo.  Also, on my plate, I added cheese (because I"m not entirely vegan.)

I'd really like to try this with soyrizo, for the record.  I imagine it would be even better!  But with these changes, we all still REALLY liked this dish.  Highly recommend.  After quarantine, I can find all the necessary ingredients and will try it as recommended and report back! 

Wordy Wednesday: Essentiality during Covid 19

This might turn into a tiny rant...sorry/not sorry. 

I'm so sick of seeing the COVID 19 Flu comparison.  Let me explain why I feel like they are so vastly different.  I know people throw around the numbers and yes, obviously, more people have died from the flu.  I get it. You can't dispute it.  Here's where the real problem comes in (IMO.)  When you have the flu, you know relatively quickly that you have the flu.  And you self isolate to protect the people you love, and the public in general even.  You do this without hesitation, without question.  You lock yourself in your room/house and you sleep and hydrate and medicate and try to get well.  COVID 19 is an entirely different beast because you can have it, and be carrying it around, for 14 days without a single symptom.  THEN bam, you're sick as hell and you've put everyone you have associated with at-risk unknowingly to you and them.  It's why self-isolation is so important right now.  Does it suck??  FUCK YES, it does.  But, the alternative sucks way worse y'all. 

Most states have implemented some sort of lockdown.  It is SUGGESTED that you shelter at home. The problem in certain places (I'm in NC and this is the problem I see here) is that there is no enforcement of this order, it's a SUGGESTION.  Stay at home if you can....ok YOU CAN, but you aren't.  I hate you all.  Just so you know. 

Our governor says don't go out unless you have to.  I work in a gas station, on an overnight shift.  Now, when officers, EMTs, nurses, firefighters, etc come through at those hours I have NO PROBLEM with making them food or selling them drinks/snacks.  You ARE essential, and I'm happy to help. 

Now, for you assholes in your PJ's at 3am ordering milkshakes...that's a whole other ball game.  Nothing about you being out and about is essential.  NOTHING.  You do not NEED a milkshake or an order of curly fries at 3 in the morning, you just WANT it and you are so self-centered that you are putting yourself AND others at risk to get it.  Yeah, I hate you. 

I come home from work in the morning, and I can't even hug my children.  I take off my shoes outside and leave them on the porch to absorb the sunshine and hopefully kill the germs.  I wave to my boys and go take my clothes off and put them in the washer, and go directly to the shower.  Only AFTER this process can I embrace my kids.  Do you know how much that sucks???  And there are so many people that have separated themselves from their kids altogether.  Sending their kids away, so that they aren't at risk (actually, something I'm considering because The Punk is working from home currently, so if the boys are with him they are less exposed.)  Four is immunocompromised and I'm the most worried about him, clearly, I don't want any of us to get it, but I'm worried that his compromised immune system and asthmatic lungs would make this virus much more likely to be deadly for him.

But your milkshake is more important than those people being able to be with their kids, right?  Your fries are more important than your own loved ones whom you are ALSO putting at risk, right? 

This whole pandemic has shown me how selfish we are as a society, from the hoarding of supplies to the going about your business as usual when told to stay home, collectively you make me sick (quite possibly accurate.) 

Essential employees are expected to show up.  I'm considered essential.  *can you feel the eye roll?*  Now, I'm not saying I'm not grateful for my job, I am.  It successfully pays my bills (and genuinely I like it!) But, the only thing I feel is essential about my business is the GAS part.  And you know what?  Our gas pumps function without our employees at all.  Other places that are deemed essential are also FAR FROM IT.

Unless you absolutely need it, now is not the time to go shopping for it.  Stay the fuck at home. 

Skinny Housewife: Vegan Stuffed Pepper Soup

Vegetarian Stuffed Pepper Soup

This recipe was liked by everyone, which in my house is impressive!  What she has to say about it being better the 2nd day is SPOT ON, we had it for dinner two nights in a row and YUMMMM.   Usually, I make alterations to recipes, but I didn't change anything this time! 

I used to hate stuffed peppers as a kid...and my grandmother made them pretty often.  I've been saying for years that I need to try them again as an adult, and this was my first step in that direction.  I loved the soup, and will definitely be giving actual stuffed peppers a go again in the near future, so stay tuned.

Here we go again...

The last year has been a struggle for Three.  Middle school has not been kind to him, and while I understand that it isn't really kind to most kids, it was worse for him.  He was lost, he developed anxiety, and an eating disorder.  He talked of killing himself multiple times a week.  I'm eternally thankful that he came to us and talked about it so openly and bravely, as I know far too many families aren't that lucky.  He wouldn't/couldn't pinpoint what it IS about middle school that made his whole existence so terrible but it never wavered.  He hates it there and it was sucking away the beautiful soul we all knew.  

A month ago, I took a promotion at work that changed my shift.  Three's issues weren't my sole motivation, but it was high on the list of reasons for the change (they've been asking me to take this position for years, literally.)  Changing shifts allows me to be home during the day (although, sleeping a good chunk of it) and keep my teaching job.  Two weeks ago, when my training on my normal shift was finished I pulled Three from school.  It's not going to be an easy road, but we collectively feel like it's the necessary move to save our boy.  I'm happy to have the support of my family, and my friends as we rejoin the homeschool community that I've missed for the last 3 1/2 years.  

Yesterday, I dug through his sister's old textbooks which I'm grateful my packrat self had held on to!  Upon examination, I found most of what I will need to complete 7th grade.  I ordered science, math and new maps.  Don't really think I'll need much else.  Ideally, when I come home from work I'll assign him his work (he is 13 for the love of God, he should be capable of independent work!) and then nap.  When I wake up to go get his brother from school, we will go over what he did and handle questions, etc during that time.  That's the idea...we will see how it pans out in reality.  I'll keep you updated!

It's going to be hard, but I'm sure it will be worth it.  The number one goal is a happy healthy boy, and a sane mama.  Let's get it.