Tasting New Cultures with Try The World

When my son gets bored and has absolutely nothing else to do, he likes to surf the net and see what kinds of interesting things he can find.  Quiet often I'll log into my email and find links regarding cars, fabulous photography, obscure news from around the world, etc.  A few weeks ago I received an email that was link upon link of sites that you can buy subscription boxes from that contain a variety of food, household goods, crafts, etc.  Being the good mom I am *wink, wink* I checked out each link.  Some of them were things I would probably never buy, and some of them looked interesting, but were too expensive.  Then I clicked on one that looked pretty good.

As part of my new life I've decided I need to be more adventurous with food and going places instead of just working & stitching, so Try the World looked great to me.  I can try new food AND not leave my house, lol!  Actually, if I can try food from new cultures in my own house, I might be more willing to then try a new restaurant that serves that kind of food.  So I figured what would it hurt to use part of my "entertainment" budget to give this a shot.

Last week I received my first box from them.  It was the Marrakesh box.  Once I opened the outer packaging, I found another box inside that looked like Tiffany box of foods.

Who wouldn't want to open a box that looks like this to see what kind of yummy treats it holds inside?!

The first thing I found when I took the lid off was a card describing the products inside and a little booklet telling you about the culture and offering a couple of recipes.

Now that I knew what was in my box, my next step was to remove the packing materials and get down to the goodies.  I already knew there were 6 items in there, but I wanted to see what they were.

I received a package of biscuits/cookies, cous cous sauce, a tin of sardines, a jar of kefta rub, a bottle of argan oil and a box of cous cous.  Fantastic because I've never had ANY of these items.  I texted my son pics and told him I got my first box.  His response..."you need to do a blog post about it".  I agreed, but said I wanted to wait until I tried some of the items first.

Tonight I decided to use both the cous cous and sauce with my dinner.

I browned some ground turkey, added the sauce and put it on top of the cous cous.  It wasn't bad, but I was expecting it to be spicier.  The cous cous reminds me of REALLY dry Cream of Wheat.  I followed the directions on the box, which made 2 servings, and have enough left to make another 4-6 servings.  I think the next time I make it I'll be sure to add it to a vegetable dish that has some sort of dressing with a kick to it.

I'm already looking forward to my next box!  If this is something you'd like to try, just follow this link and save $15.00 on your first purchase.  And if you decide to do it, please share with me what box(es) you get and what you think of them.

WIP Updates and Cabbage Salad

It's that time of week again that I'm dutifully doing my blog post.  I find mine aren't as witty as some others that I read, but we all have to be who we are.  And as my son tells me often, I'm old & lame, LOL!

It's been another busy week around here of work, healthy meal planning & preparation, exercising, some more packing of the house, and of course...stitching!!

I've made quite a bit of progress on my latest pattern model "Two Blessings" and was thrilled to actually get a photo that shows the fabric color more realistically.  I've made even more progress since this photo, but haven't taken a new pic yet since this past Monday.

This blog has been a great place for me to put my plans & commitments out there to the world and feel like I'm being held accountable for them (even though I'm not sure anyone else cares).  More progress was made on the "Warholesque Family" last week and I'm already looking forward to spending a few hours with it tonight since it is Saturday and my dedicated day to work on it.

As you can see, I was able to finish the blue border on Zach.  His face still needs filled in, but as I haven't been to the store to get more white floss it will have to wait.  I had someone ask on my Facebook page how I could possibly be out of white floss.  It is a good question.  When this piece was started I was only using DMC "blanc" for my white.  Since then I've decided I like the B5200 Snow white better, as it's a brighter white.  There are plenty of skeins of B5200 in my stash, but no "blanc", which is what I'll need to pick up.  A trip will be made to the store this week not only to get floss for various projects, but also to pick up some fabric I'm going to need for future projects.  I figure I might as well get it now and prep it, which includes washing before use while I'm still living in a house with washer & dryer conveniently located vs. a high-rise apartment building with laundry facilities 4 floors down.

The exercise & weight loss plan is still on track.  The weight isn't coming off as quickly as I'd like, but I'm hoping with nicer weather for more walks and increased water consumption that I'll see more progress.  And yes, exercise is happening.  Here's a pic of my activity for this week.  I'm still hoping it warms up enough to get outside for a 2+ mile walk today.

Healthy meals are becoming a pure joy!!!  Granted, I don't enjoy the time it's taking to track down new recipes, I do like having new things to try and create new menu possibilities.  I'm also finding the longer I go without eating things like Little Debbie snacks, the less I crave them.  Wait.  I should be honest.  My body isn't craving them, but my mind still is.  I'm trying substitute weekend snacking of cookies, chips, etc. to healthy alternatives and doing things like grabbing a spoonful of the current salsa/slaw/salad that is in my fridge.


This week's recipe was a cabbage salad I made.  I originally found this recipe online.  I'm not a big fan of beets so those were a no for me.  I also don't have any pepitas (pumpkin seeds) in the house.  In fact I'm finding with not restocking in advance of my move the end of the month I'm running out of a lot of things! However, I did have that red cabbage in my fridge I picked up at the store and needed to do something with.  I decided to use the vinaigrette portion of the recipe and then do my own modified salad.  This is what I came up with:

I used 1/2 red cabbage, 1/2 red onion, 2 stalks celery and 1/4 bag of matchstick carrots, plus 4 oz. reduced fat feta cheese.  As I previously mentioned, I kept the vinaigrette dressing the same as noted in the recipe.  It was good and a definite will make again!  :)


I think I've probably bored everyone enough for this week.  Be sure to come back next week for pics of more stitching progress and and update on whatever healthy recipe I choose, which I'm clueless about at this time.


Until then....Happy Stitching and be good to yourself!  


P.S.  I also signed up for a stitching retreat in September that will be just about a 1 hour drive from me.  It will be my first ever retreat and I'm totally stoked to be going! 

Corn Salsa with Chili Lime Vinaigrette

I know I normally combine posts to include both some needlework updates and my healthy recipe of the week, but this week I'm doing them separately so I can post this one directly on Pinterest.

I didn't experiment with anything new this week.  I have too much going on, as well as preparing to move houses next month.  And for any of you that have done that, I'm sure you know it means cleaning out the pantry, fridge & freezer.  I decided this week to stick with one of my faves for the past few years...Corn Salsa with Chili Lime Vinaigrette.

I first came across this when I bought a small container of out from a deli.  It was fantastic...but expensive!  I decided I could make it myself cheaper and probably healthier.  The recipe itself is pretty simple.

2 cans sweet corn - drained & rinsed
1 can beans (I typically use kidney or black beans) - drained & rinsed
Orange or Green Pepper (or both!) for color
Red or Green Onions
Celery

When it comes to salsas and salads, I don't stress over correct measurements on the vegetables.  I figure you can't go wrong.  If I'm using 2 colors of peppers I put in 1/2 pepper each.  If it's one color, use the entire sweet pepper.  Celery is usually 2 stalks.  I put in about 1/2 cup of onions, regardless of kind.

Before making this recipe, I had never made any type of vinaigrette before, so off to the internet I went to see if I could find one.  And I did on SparkPeople.   I've changed the recipe slightly to use products I like better.  Below is my version:

2 tbsp lime juice
1/4 c. olive oil (choose what YOU like, full-flavored or light)
3 tbsp white vinegar (I've also used apple cider vinegar)
2 tbsp water
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp chili powder (make sure it's good quality)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (or more to taste)

Fair warning, this IS a spicy dressing, and with most things spicy, it will taste more so the 2nd day than the 1st, so you might want to use the cayenne sparingly on your first attempt.

Simply mix all the dressing ingredients in a jar or cruet and shake well, then pour over salsa and let sit for 30+ minutes prior to serving.

I've used this salsa over/with many other foods:  canned tuna, turkey burgers, shredded chicken, or mix with some shredded greens for a great salad.  Either way, don't be afraid to experiment and make it your own.

I hope you enjoy this, and feel free to leave any comments below!  Happy HEALTHY eating!



P.S.  I have been trying really hard at eating healthy, drinking more water and exercising more to not only lose the rest of the weight I want to, but to live a healthier lifestyle.  This pic is just some of the healthy food I picked up at the grocery store tonight for meals this week.  :)

Set Backs and Progress

Unfortunately last week was a very trying one for my family.  If follow my Facebook page, then you already know about my dad being admitted into ICU a week ago today (last Monday).  Thankfully, he's no longer in ICU, but is still in the hospital and anxious to get home and get on with life, but at a slower pace for awhile.

Since I've been at the hospital every day since then, most days for hours at a time, and even overnight with no sleep when he was at his worst, I haven't had much time for stitching or healthy cooking.   There were days I basically wasn't eating anything other than bananas, yogurt and apples.  Thanks to those days I was able to take off some weight last week.  I do have to give some big thanks to friends of mine that provided home cooked meals so Zach and I had something decent to eat, as he was spending as many hours at the hospital as I was, in addition to both of us still trying to maintain our work schedules.  I must say between the two of us and my oldest sister, we basically covered the hours from mid-afternoon until the following morning so my mom didn't have to be there constantly.

Once they were able to move him from ICU, I was able to spend a little more time doing what I like to be doing...stitching and designing my next pattern.  I even took some pics for you.  :)

Over the last couple weeks, I've been working on stitching a new model for my "Laughter Is" pattern in between other things, to send off to Rita at SnowBerry NeedleArts for a nice professional finish.  I realized after I took the pic and was editing it that I didn't put the noses on the masks.  Looks like I need to do that before I send it off.

I also finished stitching this heart keyring that was a cover kit with a recent issue of CrossStitcher Magazine.  I'll list it in the newly created "charity section" in my Etsy shop sometime in the next few days.

This picture is of my 40 minutes stitching progress on the model for my next pattern.  I absolutely dislike trying to get decent pics of green or blue fabric, as they seem to give me the most difficulty.  This piece is actually a "very light jade green" fabric, and not grey like it looks in the photo.

I'm looking forward to being able to do more stitching during my "free time" along with healthy cooking & exercise and the dreaded cleaning and starting of packing the house for our move the end of next month.  

And since I have committed myself to making at least one new healthy recipe per week, I made one tonight to make up for missing last week.   Here's a pic of the "veggie slaw" I made tonight.  I tried a couple of bites of it (it was after dinner) and really liked it.  It has a very "fresh" taste to it.  I'll definitely be making it again.  I followed the recipe pretty close, but as it's basically a salad, there's flexibility with it.  If you're interested in the recipe, just click the photo. 

Oh yeah, and I even went walking tonight after work & a hospital visit before I started doing laundry, cooking, etc.  I'm looking forward to nicer weather this week that will hopefully will allow me at least a few days of outdoor time.

Until the next time, Happy Stitching and Mangia!

Nerdy Words Periodic Elements Cross Stitch Pattern

It's been a crazy, busy week around here, but alas I'm making sure I get my blog post in.

I think I'll start with my xstitch stuff today.  I mentioned earlier in the week I would have a new pattern to share with you.  Here it is....NERDY WORDS!  

The pattern itself is 114 elements of the periodic table that have all been individually charted so you can create your own words or names.  I had a lot of fun stitching them, but I think even more fun picking out the words.  It was sort of like doing a word search puzzle.  :)

If you're into that kind of thing, and you're interested in the pattern, just click the photo and it will take you to my Etsy shop where you can purchase it.  If you're a buyer for a LNS reading this post, yes it will be available through my wholesaler.   

And of course you know that the finishing of the "wine" hangtag and photography were done by the ever-so-talented Rita at SnowBerry NeedleArts.    I have so much fun working with her to create the perfect presentation of my designs!

So now to the not so good news.  :(

If you looked at my weight tracker at the top of my page you'll see I actually put on weight this week.  I thought I was being better than evidently what the scales said I was.  I have been eating some junk, as it's already in the house and I just hate to waste money.  Plus, I'll be moving the end of next month and who really wants to pack groceries and move them.  That means I've been eating a lot of canned soups & stuff for lunch.  On the other hand, I've also been eating bananas, apples, yogurt, humus, various veggies, etc.  And we won't discuss the m&ms or E.L. Fudge double stuffed cookies!!!

On the positive side, I DID try a new healthy recipe last night and I love it!!  I made Healthy Broccoli Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing.  Here's a pic of my bowl.  

I will say, there are some things I would definitely change.  I would only use about 1/2 of the salt, as I'm not a big salt person and I thought it was too salty.  I would also use sunflower seeds instead of pumpkin seeds.  I compared nutrition info on packages of both at the store and went with the pumpkin because they are supposed to be healthier, but found I'm not a fan of them.   I will DEFINITELY be making this dish again.  If you want the recipe, click on the photo and it will take you to the Pinterest posting where the recipe is.  

Now to figure out before Tuesday afternoon what recipe I want to try next week.  I'm thinking Zucchini Crisps or a Veggie Slaw.  Hmmm....  I guess you'll just have to tune in next weekend if you want to see what I decided.

Until then, happy stitching and bon appetite!

National Chocolate Cake Day

Did you know that today was National Chocolate Cake Day?  I did and I was thrilled!  I mean, really, it's two of my favorite things combined...chocolate and cake.  And since I had to go do my grocery shopping this morning, I figured I just had to buy this super scrumptious mini-cake for me and Zach to split after dinner tonight.

Looks great, doesn't it?!?  And what do you need with your chocolate cake?  A little bit of humor.  While I'm sitting here typing this post, all I can think of is Bill Cosby and his chocolate cake monologue.  If you haven't seen it, you really need to click here to watch the video.  It's hysterical!!!  ♪♫♪♫♪♫ "Dad is great!  Give us the chocolate cake!"  ♪♫♪♫♪♫ 

Happy eating!  :)

Wordless Wednesday - January 23, 2013

Photo courtesy of Nestle Toll House

Icing Artwork

I recently came across this artist on the web and was amazed by the artwork she creates from cake icing!  The mural on this wall is "painted" completely using the same icing you would use to decorate a cake with.

I spent quite a bit of time scrolling through all the pictures on her site and was amazed by them and the stories that go with all the different pieces of art she creates.   She also has a series of sand sculptures featured that were created years ago.  I'd definitely check those out also.

And just about 6 weeks ago she participated in an event in Toronto, ON with this awesome display.  Tons of pics to look at here.  Wish I could have been there to see it in person.  I'm sure I would have enjoyed not only seeing her wall, but all the others that were part of the event.

Now if you'll excuse me, all this talk of cake icing is making me hungry.  Think it's time for some breakfast.  :)

Saturdays in the Fall

I thought I'd give everyone an inside look at what Saturdays are like in the Stitchnmomma household in the fall....

Lots & lots of College Football, with the Ohio State Buckeyes being the team of choice.  Yesterday was followed by the Navy v. Penn State game, then Florida v. Tennessee and finally Texas (hook 'em horns!) v. Ole Miss.  Man, that's a tiring day, lol!

With homemade pizza and typically plenty of other unhealthy food.

Sometimes stitching happens, and sometimes it doesn't, as was the case yesterday.  The Bucks game was just way too exciting with tons of action!!  I don't know how much stitching will be done today either since the girls are coming over for our monthly stitch-in.

Sin City

Today I thought I'd share some of the pics I took in my recent weekend trip for my birthday (thanks to some awesome friends) to Las Vegas.  And you know how the saying goes...What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, so you can't see all of them, lol!

The Blue Man Group on Steroids, lol!

La Reve (Cirque du Soleil) at The Wynn

 Italy & Chocolate - 2 of my favorite things in life

 The Parasol Bar at The Wynn

This isn't really my style of bike, but I was in awe of the artistic talent it took to do this amazing metalwork!

Yeah, you can see we were big winners...NOT!

My last fabulous meal before leaving Sin City.  Damn it was good! 

A Thought Provoking Fortune

I think just about everyone enjoys getting a fun fortune in your fortune cookies.  There's some I've kept over the years, some I've taken pics of and sent to a friend because I thought it was funny, true, etc. and others I've just thought "whatever" and thrown away.

Well, this is a picture a fortune I got a couple of days ago, and I found it rather thought provoking.  We've all had that interview question of "Where do you find yourself in 5 or 10 years?" and you honestly want to answer "Definitely not working for you!" but you smile and give some politically correct answer you think they'll be impressed with.  But have you ever had someone ask you what you think you'll be THINKING in 10 years?  No, neither have I, which is why I liked this fortune so much.  I've actually been thinking about what I'll be thinking of in 10 years (and I think I'm doing too much thinking, lol!).

So with that I'll stop thinking and leave you to think about what you'll be thinking about in 10 years.  :)

A Sweet Surprise

I came home from work yesterday and had a surprise.  Well, sort of a surprise as I had already been alerted to be looking for a package.

This is part of what I received in the package:

OMG!!!  I'm hooked!!!  For anyone that really knows me, you know I have one true addiction (outside of cross stitch) and that's chocolate.  And dark chocolate is my favorite!!  Not only did I have a bag of these delectable little pieces of heaven, but the entire box was full of misc. French chocolates, bon bons and biscuits (or as we call them here the The States...cookies!).  It was my birthday gift from a friend of mine that recently went to France to visit her parents on the way to start a new job in the Middle East that has since fallen through.   The job change is bad news for her, but good news for me because that means I'll get more French goodies in the future.  And no, I'm not that heartless of a friend that I'm only worried about chocolate.  She's actually changed career fields, is staying in France and is happier then she's been in years!  :)

Sorry, I digressed.  Now back to the chocolate.  I don't know what ANY of it is because all the packaging is in French.  I haven't decided yet if I'm going to google all of them before I open them, or just dig in and be surprised.  What I do know is I'm going to have to crank up my workouts to battle all the extra calories I'll be eating, lol!

With that, I'm off to have a chocolate w/my cup of tea before getting ready for work.  Mmmmmmm!!!

A Break From Our Normally Scheduled Friday Programing

OK, so I know it's Friday and I usually do a Freebie Friday post.  Today I just couldn't.  And why you may ask.  Well, do you know what today is?  No?  OK, I'll tell you.

IT'S NATIONAL SMORES DAY!!!

I mean really, who can resist the ooey, gooey goodness of toasted marshmallow and chocolate smashed in between two crispy graham crackers! *wipes drool* 

Now that I have everyone else drooling, who's going to be making smores tonight????

Mmmm....CAKE!

I mean really, who in their right mind doesn't like cake?  LOL!

I love eating cake and the artistic side of me is completely amazed with what bakers, cake sculptors, whatever you want to call them can do with fondant & frosting.

One of my favorite websites is Cake Wrecks.  Monday through Saturday they feature the "terrible" cakes (and cupcakes) we all know exist.  On Sunday, the day I like best on their site, they do a feature they call Sunday Sweets.  This is where they feature all the beautiful, gorgeous, to-die-for cakes that cost an absolute fortune, but as so well worth it!

This is my favorite cake, well it's technically cupcakes, from today's post. It's an amazing cupcake bouquet from Mimi's Cakes & Bakes. If you'd like to drool over more of her glorious creations, just click the photo.  Oh, and don't forget your napkin, lol!  :)


Now, who wants cake?