Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Would the alien in my brain please leave?

I seem to have come down with a serious case of "I don't give a crap." This past weekend was very busy, not lots of sleep, plenty to eat and drink, plenty of company. Sunday evening's post Easter dinner run got rained out and wasn't able to do one yesterday, so I knew I had to fit something in today before I meet with my trainer. This week's goal was to push myself longer before I took my first walking break because once I take a walking break it's harder to get myself to run for longer sections. I don't know what's going on with me. I made it half a mile before I took a 30 second walking break. I was huffing and puffing like I'd never run before. I started back up again, but I hadn't run more than a minute when I stopped. I realized that I didn't want to run, wasn't enjoying myself in the slightest, and didn't give a crap. So I stopped running. I finished my walk back home, less than 1.5 miles total, changed out of my running gear, and started a load of laundry. How's that for exciting. I, one of the least enthusiastic housekeepers in history, preferred to do a load of laundry rather than run. Quite truthfully, I am not very thrilled about going to the gym right now either, but I've paid for the training sessions, so I have to go. What evil little worm has gotten into my brain and made me not give a damn about something I've been doing for the last year?

Friday, April 15, 2011

Today's Fortune Cookie

Courage is contagious.

All Quiet On The Southern Front

I've been quiet lately. Out of sorts may be a better term for it. The Aussie has finally gotten home after his trip to visit the family overseas. It was sooo quiet in the house. I missed him, the dogs missed him. The parrot, maybe not. I'm sure she thought about it though.

While he was in the Sydney airport on the first leg of his trip, he bought me a snowglobe. On the return, the security personnel confiscated it. He was seriously P.O.d. Well, wouldn't you know that there was a gift shop on the other side of the security checkpoint that had the same snowglobe, so he bought me another one. Hah! He said he'd have to remember to put it in his checked baggage once he reached the U.S. It's really difficult to remember things when you've been travelling for over 20 hours. Needless to say, he forgot to put it in his suitcase before it was re-checked. Thankfully, they had a storefront in the airport where you could mail things rather than have them confiscated, so he had it packaged up and mailed home. So, thousands of miles later, my snowglobe!

Friday, April 8, 2011

Today's Fortune Cookie

A true friend is someone who is there for you when they'd rather be anywhere else.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Chicken Divan

Well, I lost a follower this week. I don't know if it was because I blogged about my race last Sunday or if it was because I hadn't posted a chicken recipe in a while. An IRL friend, one who's actually known me since 6th grade, said it was the chicken issue. Oh well. Enjoy the interwebs without me, unknown former follower.

So, The Aussie's never been a casserole person, which I think is a crying shame. I grew up with "weird" casseroles (aka stir fries before they were cool) so I love real, honest to goodness, casseroles. I picked up a rotisserie chicken at Costco last night, so I had leftover chicken to cook with. Here's what I cooked up tonight:

Chicken Divan (and then some)
2 cups cooked chicken, cut into cubes
2 cups cooked broccoli
1 cup cooked spinach (I had leftover from last night, sauteed with garlic)
2 cans low fat cream of mushroom soup mixed herbs
1/4 c white wine
panko bread crumbs
parmesan
salt/pepper to taste

Heat the oven to 375. In a sauce pan, combine the 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup with the white wine. Add in some herbs and stir. When warmed up, remove from heat. Dice your cooked chicken. If you need, cook your vegetables. I had a few asparagus spears from the garden that I steamed in a bag for 45 seconds, then I steamed the broccoli. I had left over spinach from last night, so I added it in the dish. Spread the vegetables in a casserole dish. Add in the diced, cooked chicken. Pour over the cream of mushroom soup and stir until the soup is settled in with the vegetables and chicken. Cook for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, remove from the oven and top with some parmesan and panko crumbs. I, do humbly admit, use parmesan from the large green container I get at Costco. Last time I bought the real stuff it went moldy, so I use the "fake" stuff. Bake for 10 more minutes.

If you need to run it under the broiler to get it browned, like I did, feel free.

I have to say, this was really good, and I think, not that bad for you. I just wish The Aussie liked casseroles...

Friday, April 1, 2011

Today's Fortune Cookie

Through greater effort and hard work a precious dream comes true.