Approaching Glory

Cathead Biscuits

A couple of weeks ago Hubby and I went out to breakfast up in Habersham County with a young couple with whom we've become fast friends. It was a quaint little "home town" café on the square. After we said our greetings and got settled we took a look at the menu. My eyes went down to the item – cathead biscuits. Now I've lived long enough in the South (or any place as far as that goes) to know enough that this place was NOT serving cats' heads or fish heads as a biscuit. So – I asked the obvious question, "What is a cathead biscuit." It got me an "Oh Susan" from my young female friend – and the guys bust out laughing. I hid my face behind the menu and pretended to hide in shame. Obviously, this knowledge was something everyone was supposed to know. And it was then that I realized that I may have lived here in Georgia for over thirty years but I'm still a Yankee – no matter what.  For more information on cathead biscuits read here.

The Support Group

Today was my return visit to the doctor.  I was supposed to bring my "support group".  I figured it would be Hubby and I since Jbird was lost to the sleep monster.

However, when I got to the doctor's office there was Judy waiting for us.  Now - just let me tell you that Judy does NOT get up early in the morning.  So I knew this was REAL support.

The doctor went over all my information again so that they could hear the details.  I got congratulated on my weight loss - 5 lbs - it's a start.  My sugar level was good.  My blood pressure was down but still high.  The doc is still believing that it will go down on it's own in just a bit.  I was getting that "how did I get here" feeling again.  I didn't say anything but it was rising up from the dark lagoon of my thoughts when the doc said, "Remember - this is genetics.  We don't know the family history.  You can thank your birth parents.  This has been coming on for over ten years."  Right.

I did get the news though - that I've got to go for a stress test next Monday.  Boo - hiss.  I'm figuring Judy will go with me since both Hubby and Jbird have to be at school at that time.  All in all - the doc is happy with me so far - although he did emphasize the necessity of the exercise.  Now that the sinus infection is gone, I feel like I can start down that road.  I see the doc again in a month.

After the appointment we met up with another friend at IHOP's.  I had a piece of chicken with steamed broccoli and a small salad.  Which, while it tasted fantastic, was a far piece from the pancakes that my friends were gobbling down.  I am having to tell myself over and over, "You can do this.  Don't eat that - it is poison."

I will continue to post on my progress through the maze.  Read earlier (back postings) to get the scoop on the story.

Where I've Been Part 2 (warning long)

I forgot to mention that during November and December Jbird began working with his buds on a spoof of the Ironman trailer.  Jbird is Ironman.  Except he has stuff like and ironing board as part of the getup.  It should be funny when it gets done.  I made a bunch of fudge and wrapped up gifts for a friend.  At the last minute the three of us decided to state one thing we wanted and we'd get that.  Now that I think about Hubby still hasn't gotten his - oh well.

January -
Jbird officially started college.  This means that I am car-less a lot.  Eventually we are going to have to get the car back from the guy we loaned mine to - sooner than later - if you know what I mean.  So far so good with the college scene.  Jbird's not been scheduled to work for awhile and he is eventually going to have to look for another place of employment where he can work weekends only.

Hubby's semester this time is challenging.  He is teaching a Math 1 course which has to be written as you go - don't go there.  He is having to teach quite a bit of Algebra 3 and so he is having to review that information.  Otherwise - he seems to be okay.

So along comes my doctor visit.  I have gotten smart in my old age and keep files on the computer with everyone's medical information on it - that why I can take it along and fill in the blanks or just attach it to the new doc's papers.  I also write out a list of questions I want to ask and take it with me - cause I know I will forget something vital.

As he is glancing over my papers and asking questions - my blood pressure is taken in both arms.  Not good - high still/yet/again.  I've also given him the cholesterol/lipid test results that were all so nasty.  I'm expecting that he is going to tell me that he is upping my cholesterol meds, start a diet, exercise, and put me on blood pressure meds.

So I was rather shocked when he asks me my family history.  I tell him - no idea - adopted.  Hmmm.... he says and then asks me some other questions about ovarian cysts - which I had had.  He then tells me that he is not going to treat the individual symptoms like everyone else appears to have done.  He believes I've been starting this journey over ten years.  I look at him.  And then he lays the bomb.  He believes I'm insulin resistant.  I have syndrome x - which is pre-diabetes.  I just stare at him.  He tells me if we don't stop my progress down the road I'll probably be fully diabetic in a couple of years and my thyroid will conk out as well.

Yes, he tell me that I've made some poor nutritional choices but in reality I have my birth parents to thank.  It's a matter of genetics. Right. So I am given a diabetic diet and glucophage.  I am also told to exercise five days a week.  Not going to treat the high blood pressure?  Nope.  Let's see what this does first.

When I do get home and Google syndrome x I am shocked and dismayed to find out I have almost every single symptom listed. (including the depression and emotionalism that I had been experiencing so strongly during December)  Some of the symptoms I had been attributing to my allergies or other ailments.  (blurry vision)  Oh - I also have a raging case of sinus infection for which I got antibiotics and ZyrtecD (which sends me into zombie land and off to sleep).

So this is where I've been - and now it is time to make a bunch of changes.  I am heading down a road I can't get off - but I can halt the progress - but it is going to be a long haul. 

Pumpkin Protein Shake

  Several days ago, (who actually knows when since all this stuff has started happening around here!) I decided to start Jbird on protein shakes.  He's recently started taking a med that causes an increase in appetite.  He's already gained a few pounds and asked for my help.  I've read all over the Web about protein shakes and decided to give it a shot.  Off we went to the health food store and came home with the Whey of Life vanilla blast.  We also got some rice milk, almond milk, lots of frozen fruits, bananas, and some Udo's oil - the 3-6-9 blend (fatty acids).

Well, I'm doing better than Jbird with them.  I've made some great tasting shakes and hopefully in the next few days will be able to go back to the Y and start swimming again.  Hopefully.  Anyway - this morning I was debating whether or not to whip up some oatmeal raisin muffins, bran muffins, or pumpkin raisin muffins.  Instead, I did this:

• 1.5 cups vanilla rice milk (almond or soy would work fine)
•  2 tbsp of Spenda brown sugar
• 3 big heaping tbsp of Libby's Pumpkin Pie mix
• 1 scoop Natural Vanilla Whey Protein Powder
• 1 banana
• 1 tsp of Udo's
• handful of ice (this depends on how thick or thin you like it

Does YUM mean anything?  Wow.  This was super.

The Baking Day

I'm a day behind my normal holiday schedule.  Thankfully, Jbird help me.  We had two mince meat, two pumpkin, and an apple pie to bake.  Actually that doesn't sound too bad - that is until you add up all the crusts you have to make.  (8)  Jbird mixed the ingredients and I did the rolling out and pie innards.  The house smells wonderful.

Hubby came home from the grocery store with a 24 pounder.  I do believe that's more than enough.  The mad dash to make the house presentable has begun!

Guess What I Made?

Yes - those are muffins that I made for breakfast.  But do you know what they are made of?  Nope not bran.  These delicious muffins were made with Krusteaz Pumpkin Spice Mix which I raved about here and here.  Last year I couldn't find the mix - though I looked high and low.  But on Saturday when I went to Sam's there it was!  Each box contains a three pack of the mix.  I bought three boxes.  I think I should have bought a case!  I know I'm going back for more.  This is the first time I tried baking the muffins and they are yummy too (the cookies from the side of the box recipe still have my heart though). Did I say they were easy?  Yup - sure are.

It has been a rather odd day here.  I've been doing tons of laundry.  I've determined we have way too many clothes and it is time to sort through the lot.  But not today.

We made it through the end of the Brit. Lit.  I still think I'm going to give him an AP grade on the subject when he finishes a research paper for me.  There were nearly 1200 pages in the text. Makes me wonder how they figure that book should be covered in 180 days including assignments et al.  Jbird tells me he is ready for Spanish 2.  I told him if he can take the final for the Spanish 1 and pass it - then we will go forward.  Hubby and J will be working weekends on the Chemistry and math.  So I've decided to do an elective that I can't think of a good name for that will cover study skills, grammar, writing, test prep, vocabulary, and some speech (including presentation).  I've got a text/workbook which I'll discuss at a later time (it's great) and I know where I can get a good dvd on the same subject.  He really doesn't need the course cause we are down to 2 maths, Spanish2 and chemistry and we are finished with HS.  Everything else is test prep and life skills.  I have some ideas flying around in my brain to help Jbird acquire some life skills

On another note:  I got the family update through the email today.  We have in our family someone who very graciously keeps track of all of us and our current information.  Considering the size of hubby's family that is no small task.  We are spread out all across the USA now.  We receive three documents in the annual update - The Address, Email, Phone List, The Anniversary/Birthday List, and The In Memoriam List.  The older I get the more touched I am every time I read the memoriam list.  Their names bring back many memories.  I need to remember to make a tree for Jbird so he can "see" how all these people go together.

And It's Tasty Too!

Okay - the first go round with the chicken marsala was not as we hoped.  It was good but not like Olive Garden's.  Now that I knew that it wasn't going to be like the restaurant's dish - I decided I needed to adjust it our tastes.  Which I did.  And everyone liked it.  So here goes:

Lillium's Chicken Marsala (based on the Olive Garden recipe)

Prep time: 30 minutes/Cook time: 30 minutes/Serving size: 4

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
• 1/2 cup flour
• salt to taste
• pepper to taste
• dried oregano to taste
• 4 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp corn starch
• 1 tsp chicken bouillon (if you use the cubes I say three)
• 2 cups fresh mushrooms sliced
• 1 cup Marsala wine

Procedures

1. Pound chicken breasts between sheets of plastic wrap until about 1/4" thickness (I use a baggie)
2. Combine flour, salt, pepper, and oregano in a mixing bowl.  Dredge chicken pieces in the flour, shaking off any excess.
3. Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat.  Cook chicken breasts on medium heat for about 2 minutes on the first side until lightly browned.  Turn breasts over to cook other side, then add mushrooms to skillet.  Cook breasts two more minutes, until both sides are lightly browned.  Continue to stir mushrooms. 
4. Mix the corn starch and chicken bouillon into the Marsala wine.  Add the Marsala mixture to skillet pouring around the chicken pieces.
5. Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes.
6. Transfer to serving plate.

Yummy yummy.  I've served with a nice salad or veggies.  I think I'm going to try the Olive Garden recipe for their potatoes -which is the side order I think goes with this at the restaurant.  I'll let you know how it turns out.  Enjoy.

Southern Biscuits

It has taken me years to finally achieve a decent glass of Southern Iced Tea.  I wrote about it awhile ago but can't seem to find the post - anyway - the secret is a pinch of baking soda to make it smooth tasting.  But let me tell you about my biscuits....

First, in my defense, let me say that where I come from (Western New York) we did not have biscuits like they have here in the South.  Hubby and I moved to Raleigh, NC in the late seventies, and that is when I first tasted southern style biscuits.  I called up my mom and dad, who were then living in Ft. Lauderdale, and told them they were going to have to try these wonderful goodies.  At the time there wasn't any place in south Florida that was serving these might morsels - but when they came to visit me, they got their first try at "a little heaven on earth."  My mother's remark was something to effect that it wasn't any wonder I was putting on weight.  And thank you mother dearest!

Well, I've made numerous attempts to re-create the flaky, delicious goodies but I normally end up with what you'd hit with a hockey stick!  I've tried all kinds of tips, flours, Crisco/butter combinations, etc.  I've sought out and experimented with various recipes.  Grandma's Never Fails to Angel Biscuits - nothing worked for me.  My family went from laughing at my culinary bombs - to groaning when I would announce I was going to try again.

Jbird and I were grocery shopping the other day in the baking ingredients aisle, when my little eye rested upon Southern Biscuit Flour. I picked up the package and walked over to the dairy section.   I bought the buttermilk needed.  That's the two ingredients - the mix and buttermilk.  I was getting a little excited here - Biscuits for Dummies.  Jbird rolled his eyes at me. I  was wondering if I should just forget it when he said, "You're not going to try biscuits again are you?"  The challenge had been made!  I marched my little bodacious biscuit making buns right on home with my high hopes and ingredients.

I got up early and read the directions carefully.  I did my absolute best not to overwork the dough.  Checked to make sure the oven was hot enough and that I had spread the dough out a good 3/4 of an inch thick before I used the bottom of a glass to cut out my biscuits.  Yeah - I know.  Somebody out there has some real cute biscuit cutters, but here we use a glass.  I know it says 1/2 " but I wanted to make sure we had high rising, soft-inside biscuits.  I also placed the biscuits a little closer to each other than it says - again I wanted the sides to be soft as opposed to crispy.

And guess what?  They were so good that my family actually asked me when I was going to make some more - wow!  Are those cheers I hear in the background?  Yup.  Thought so. 

Tollhouse at My House

I promised you a recipe.  I thought it would be something sensible and healthy.  Would you settle for full of calories and delicious?

Click here for the Tollhouse Swirled Cookies recipe.  My dear hubby, who is doggedly sticking to THE diet, just asked me why I made them.  I think that you only have to smell them baking and then pop a nice warm one in your mouth to answer that.  But, "just because" would do.

Sonny boy is now a certified lifeguard, certified first aid somethin-or-other, and certified for CPR.  I always knew he was certifiable.  So it is onward to getting re-certified in the swimming CPR and taking the Water Safety Instructor course.

Hubby and I have been having a duel all day with the Bejeweled.  I'm pleased to say that I'm currently the high scorer.  I don't know how that will last but it feels good while it lasts.

I've completed another set on the Baby Aran sweater.  I honestly can't say enough good about this pattern.  Easily memorized (and considering my memory that's definitely a good thing) and to do.  (pretty cardinal and his lady just hopped by on the front lawn).

Got a lovely email from Amy Main.  Her hubby's blog,  The Main Point by Michael Main, is listed in my Blog Reads.  He is an excellent writer and a good read.  I thoroughly enjoyed my email from Amy - it was a blessing.

I updated all the blog-links that I noticed had changed their addies.  I changed colors again.  I'm adding to my Knitters and Blog Reads list.  I want to add some other Typepad lists as well.

Tomorrow morning I have to take Jbird to the cardiologist.  They are just checking to make sure that some of the symptoms he has with the ACM are just that and not heart related.  They said to expect a 2-3 hour long visit.  My knitting will definitely go with me.

Special Evening

Every once in awhile you get to experience a very special evening. Our family had one tonight. We were invited to a gathering of people from our church at our friend's house. This was our first time to their home and while I expected it to be lovely - nothing could have prepared me for how exquisite it truly is. Without pictures it is difficult to explain but let me suffice it to say - it ranks up there with homes I've seen in House Beautiful or Southern Living. I fully agree with greta that our senses cry out to be surrounded by such loveliness. Many years ago I would have been totally overwhelmed and insecure about going into such a situation (for neither my past nor my current situation has me living in these condition myself) BUT I've reached the place in my life where I can thoroughly appreciate its beauty and enjoy myself. I asked permission before I walked appreciatively through each room. Then I gazed with admiration at the skill of the combination of colors and textures - awesome. One area in the home touched my heart - there in a little cove off to the right of entrance way was an obvious little niche of prayer and thought. A lovely ladies sofa, small coverup draped over it, antique secretary type piece filled with books - all ready for the lady of the house to sit and read and gaze out the window. I must say - I have such admiration for people who have the gift of interior decorating. There isn't a bone in my artistic body that can manage it. I know what I like - I can tell if it looks good - but I CAN NOT do it myself. I think you are born with it and then someone causes the seed to blossom. My creative giftings lie in other areas. Not only was the home artfully and tastefully decorated but it was filled with beautiful music as well. I sat (or rather sunk) down in an all leather armchair that felt like butter cream to the body in front of a blazing fire, closed my eyes and drifted away with the music - ah --- I would have gotten up for a cuppa BUT I was too busy munching my appetizer shrimp. The table was set as if ready to be photgraphed - as for the couple who hosted - delightful company, hospitality with graciousness and they ended up serving us communion. An evening to remember.