Some progress.

I've lost three pounds, and yesterday I ran a mile. It was broken up, but it was a mile nonetheless. Gotta work harder!!!!

I'm gonna be miserable tomorrow.

Aiden is gonna have to feed himself and change his own diaper tomorrow. 'Cause I'm not gonna be able to move.

I did approximately 110 sit-ups, an unspecified number of 20-rep sets on my biceps and triceps, a 45-minute Kenpo X workout (part of the P90X series), and a 3/4-mile run on a nature trail.

A quick plug for Sketchers Shape-Ups: while running, mu abs were getting a workout!!

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The selfishness of a Dread Pirate.

A friend is pregnant after two miscarriages, and while I am happy for her, my first thought was...well, it was a painful thought. Let'a just leave it at that.

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I've been GOOGLED.

Search words: dread pirate davi

I'm famous!

PS, The Yoga X of P90X huuurrrts.

PPS, Fellow blogger Monica is hosting a Pampered Chef party for me! Woot!

Getting back into shape...again.

Who totally let herself go after losing 14 pounds last year with Weight Watchers?

This girl.

Who failed her PT test for the third goddamn time?

THIS GIRL.

I'm taking a quick break from my workout. The time to stop fucking around and start taking this srsly was a year ago...and I let the ball drop.

NOT. HAPPENING. AGAIN.

Feel free to leave disparaging comments to keep me motivated.

Super Moon!

If it weren't for Twitter, I wouldn't even know about this. Once again, social networking manages to just barely keep me in the loop of world happenings.

Check it out!

Thoughts on the meaning of life.

Lecture notes, second night of "Religion in the United States":

"Why are we here?" Why do we ask this question? Why is it important? 

It is important because this question is the basis for the establishment of religion eons ago.

 My thoughts after noting this:

I think was people are REALLY asking is, "What is the meaning of MY life?" They use religion to give their life meaning. and so their life purpose becomes the worshiping of their chosen deity (or deities).

I heard a girl say that maybe life is meant to be a journey, to learn before we cross over. I could take that and run with it. It would mean that our physical existences on this earth are merely a step in a long process. That the old cliche of death being a beginning, not an end, that it is simply a doorway to the next plane of existence, to the next step in the journey. That "heaven" or "hell" are not the final destinations, that there is something else waiting on the other side of either of those, and so on.

My head hurts. But anyways, if "why are we here" and "what is our purpose" are valid questions with legitimate answers, I don't think we'll discover them in this reality. I think we have to proceed a few more steps before we get to the answers.

Or maybe there are no answers, and I'm just talking crazy.

Hamantashen.

Well...they tasted yummeh, but they didn't look like they were supposed. Hamantashen are SUPPOSED to look like this:

But mine looked like this:

They came unfolded in the oven. Even before I put them in, I had to keep re-pinching the corners. Gonna have to figure out how to make them stick. Like I said, tho, they were tasty!

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 12 minutes

Ready in: 27 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3 eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ¾ cup vegetable oil
• 2-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup orange juice
• 5-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 Tbsp baking powder
• 1 cup fruit preserves, any flavor

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease cookie sheets.
2. In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until lightly fluffy. Stir in the oil, vanilla, and orange juice. Combine the flour and baking powder; stir in to the batter and form a stiff dough. (If dough is not stiff enough to roll out, stir in more flour.) On a lightly flour surface, roll out dough to 1/4” thickness. Cut into circles using a cookie cutter or the rim of a drinking glass. Place cookies two inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets. Spoon about 2 tsp of preserves into the center of each one. Pinch the edges to form three corners.
3. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Allow cookies to cool for one minute on the cookie sheet before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

Kreplach.

I didn't think this was very good boiled. I might try to make some more for Fiance by frying it instead.

Preparation time: 1 hour

Cook time: 15 minutes

Ready in: 1 hour, 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 lbs lean ground beef
• 2 onions, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 eggs
• 1-1/2 cup warm water

1. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat and add beef, onions, salt and pepper to taste, and cinnamon; cook until beef is no longer pink. Remove from heat and let cool.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, eggs, and water; mix until dough is smooth. Add flour until dough is no longer sticky. Roll the dough into a ball and cut into ten pieces.
3. On a floured surface, roll out each piece of dough; cut out five circles, about three inches in diameter. Place about 1 tsp of filling in the middle of each circle; fold the dough over and seal the edges with a small amount of water.
4. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; drop in kreplach a few at a time. Cook for four minutes or until kreplach float to the top. Remove with a slotted spoon; serve.

Challah bread: Update.

Success!

Challah bread.

I have a group presentation tonight on Judaism for my Religion in the United States class. As a fun way to experience Judaism, I came up with the idea to celebrate Purim, which starts tomorrow at sundown. I volunteered to cook. Currently I am waiting for the dough to rise for my challah bread. Here's a recipe. I'll let you know how it turns out.

(Found online.)

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes

Ready in: 3 hours, 40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2-1/2 cups warm water
• 1 Tbsp active dry yeast
• ½ cup honey
• 4 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 Tbsp salt
• 8 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1. In a large bowl, sprinkle yeast over barely warm water. Beat in honey, 2 eggs, and salt, and vegetable oil. Add the flour one cup at a time, beating after each addition, graduating to kneading with hands as dough thickens. Knead until smooth and elastic and no longer sticky, adding flour as needed. Cover with a damp clean cloth and let rise for an hour and half or until dough has doubled in bulk.
2. Punch down the risen dough and turn out onto floured board. Divide in half and knead each half for five minutes or so, adding flour as needed to keep from getting sticky. Divide each half into thirds and roll into long snakes about 1.5” in diameter. Pinch the ends of the three snakes together firmly and braid from middle. Either leave as braid or form into a round braided loaf by bringing ends together; curve braid into a circle, pinching ends together. Grease two baking trays and place finished braid or round on each. Cover with towel and let rise about one hour.
3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Beat the remaining egg and brush a generous amount over each braid.
5. Bake for about 40 minutes. Bread should have a nice hollow sound when thumped on the bottom. Cool on a rack for at least one hour before slicing.

The Pampered Chef: March 2011 Host Special

Host a March show and choose any new product at 60% off!


Twenty-seven new products to choose from:
Manual Food Processor
Stoneware Cookie Sheet
Microplane (r) Adjustable Coarse Grater
Dots Small Beverage Glasses (set of 4)
Mega Lifter
Outdoor Caddy
Veggie Wedger
The Pampered Chef (r) Make it Fresh, Make it Healthy
Mango Wedger
Microplace (r) Zester
Teriyaki Sauce with Honey
Sweet & Sour Sauce
Scoop 'N Drain
Coconut Lime Sauce
Mini Mix 'N Scraper (r)
Microfiber Towel (cranberry)
Measuring Spoon Set
The Pampered Chef (r) Dinner in Your Deep Covered Baker Recipe Collection
Tie-It
Bar Tongs
Twixit! Clip Combo Pack (cranberry, white)
Mini Scoop & Measure
Quikut Paring Knives (set of three; cranberry, white)
Outdoor Mini Spoon &Tongs Set
Chili Lime Rub
i-Slice (r) (cranberry)
Grill Pan & Press Scraper

As a host, you enjoy:

• FREE products of your choice
• Half-price and discounted products
• 10% discount for a year
• FREE shipping on your order

Call or e-mail me today to book a show! (Or leave a comment on the blog.)

Multi-Vendor Quarter Auction to raise money for Cordell Jackson.

Please join us for a fun-filled evening and help raise money for Cordell Jackson.


Cordell is the 3-1/2 year-old son of a sister Pampered Chef consultant who had problems with seizures and kidney failure, and has had many stays at Children's Hospital. Please help us raise money for the Jackson family to help pay their mounting hospital bills. All quarters and raffle monies will be donated to the family.

When: March 29, 2011, Tuesday
Time: Doors open at 5:45 PM, auction begins at 7:00 PM
Where: KC Hall Fairview Heights
5420 Old Collinsville Road
Fairview Heights, IL
What to bring: Quarters galore!


We'll have raffle prizes, 50/50 drawings, and other games, as well as more than 12 different vendors to shop from, including Pampered Chef, Miche Bags, Lia Sophia, Homemade Gourmet, Celebrating Home, Scentsy, Tastefully Simple, Tupperware, and many more.

Purchase a bid card at the door for $2 and play with quarters; or donate $25 for a Golden Bid Card to bid on anything all night!

You can earn more bid cards by booking an in-home party with any vendor to be held within 60 days of the event, or purchase $40 or more in product at the event. (Paddles not to exceed 4 per person.)

Get a group of 8 - 10 guests to come fill a table and this can be a show for you; you can get full host benefits! It's an easy way to host a party for me without having clean your house or buy any food.

Remember, no bid is more than a $1, and the more money we bring in, the more we can help Cordell and his family! Call or e-mail me today to reserve seats! (Or leave a comment on the blog post.)