Podcasts

Back at the beginning of September, I had a full week off of work. There was no vacation planned, no big trips. Jeremy didn't even have the time off with me. It was just me..sleeping in and doing whatever I wanted at home.

I happened to find my way to the A Dram of Outlander podcast. And I've been listening ever since.

Podcasts are a new thing for me. Sure, I've heard other people talk about podcasts but I never really looked into listening to anything until recently. It seems so old fashioned. Like back in the day when everyone in the family would gather around their one huge radio and listen to their nightly stories.

I've caught the podcast fever after listening to A Dram of Outlander. I've also started listening to a folklore podcast, which has been very interesting. It's been a great distraction, especially while I'm working. Makes the day go by so fast. And, unlike audiobooks, many podcasts are free. So, I'm on the hunt for new and updated podcasts.

Do you have a favorite podcast you enjoy listening to?

Tradition!

It's November 1st.  Halloween has been fully celebrated (I'm still recovering) so now it's time to focus on Thanksgiving and Christmas. This particular West Texas autumn has been more like a mild summer and temperatures haven't even dipped into the 60's during the day. Actually, we haven't even been close to 60. It's 90 degrees outside as I type this.

Since the weather isn't making it easy to get into the holiday season, I've been having to find other ways. I'm going to try and do Fat Mum Slim's photo a day again on Instagram with a 'Thankful' twist. I want to make an attempt at focusing on that idea this month. And I really have so much to be thankful for, so it really shouldn't be all that hard.

I might start wrapping some Christmas presents. Don't look at me like that! Maybe if it was cold outside and I could actually drink hot cocoa and wear a dang scarf this would not be happening. I have to find my holiday cheer where I can.

Hallmark Holiday Movies. Enough said.

How on earth do people in Hawaii do this?!?!?! I guess they just suffer through it.

Look at them. Don't they look real sad?

Anyways, all of this has me thinking about traditions. Traditions are another great way to get yourself into the holiday mood. There are just certain things that only happen at certain times of the year. Like my mom making us banana pancakes. That is a Christmas morning even only. So, I associate banana pancakes with the holidays. My mom started the tradition of letting us pick out or buying us new ornaments every year. I've started that same tradition with my nieces and nephew.

I have fewer traditions that focus on Thanksgiving or traditions that Jeremy and I have started together. Maybe it's time to change that. I'm still thinking on it, but I'd like to start something for Thanksgiving for us. A new tradition. Something else to help me get in the holiday spirit every year.

Tell me, what are some of YOUR favorite holiday traditions (Thanksgiving traditions would be most helpful). Did they start when you were growing up? Or have you and your spouse started new traditions? What sort of events or food make you think of the holidays?

October 2016 Photo-A-Day

Day 1 - Yellow. Day 2 - Blue. Day 3 - Purple. Day 4 - White. Day 5 - Red.

Day 6 - Green. Day 7 - Grey

Day 8 - Orange. Day 9 - Pink. Day 10 - Black. Day 11 - Aqua. Day 12 - Brown.

Day 13 - Gold. Day 14 - Silver.

Day 15 - Favorite Color. Day 16 - Rainbow. Day 17 - Tree. Day 18 - Positive Vibe. Day 19 - Food. Day 20 - Right Now. Day 21 - Stuff.

Day 22 - Chocolate. Day 23 - Wish. Day 24 - Blank. Day 25 - Together. Day 26 - My Country.

 Day 27 - Leaf. Day 28 - Spoon.

Day 29 - Fashion (missed). Day 30 - Star. Day 31 - Bucket List.

Follow me on instagram @justjinny.

Cauliflower Nachos

Jeremy shared a link on Facebook to a video of how to make cauliflower nachos. He thought maybe we should give it a try, so I made some last night.

First, let me tell you, you do not need a video to make these nachos. It is just about the easiest thing ever in the history of ever to make.

So what you need is:

1 head of cauliflower
1 cup fat-free shredded cheddar cheese
3-4 tbsp. salsa
3-4 tbsp. guacamole
Olive oil spray
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Cumin
Chili powder
Salt and Pepper

Pre-heat your oven to 425.

Line a baking dish with tinfoil, spray it with the olive oil spray. Chop up your head of cauliflower, try to leave the pieces larger to mimic tortilla chips. Spread the cauliflower on the baking sheet. Spray the cauliflower with the olive oil spray. Now, I seasoned the cauliflower with garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. But you can really use whatever you like. Bake for 20 minutes.

Pull the pan out and top with one cup of shredded cheese, put it back in the oven and bake at 400 for another 10 minutes or so (you want your cheese nice and melty, but don't let your cauliflower pieces burn).

Serve up with cauliflower nachos onto your plates and personalize. We used salsa and guacamole to top off our nachos, but again you can get creative (just be sure to add anything extra into your WW tracker).

As the recipe is right here, it was 4 SP for half the pan. Not bad on points, so I could probably add a little chicken or black beans or fat free refried beans OR splurge on regular shredded cheese and it would still be ok on my points. I'm going to be honest and tell you that I don't think there is anything on earth that can really replace regular ol' corn tortilla chips. And I'm not going to tell you this was just like regular nachos, because it wasn't. However, it was still very good and satisfying. I would make it again in a heart beat.

If you make it and change it up any, let me know how it turns out for you.

Frozen Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

Someone (Stacy, I'm looking at you) tagged me on this Weight Watcher recipe for a frozen chocolate peanut butter pie. She told me I should make it and review it on my blog. Who am I to say no?

What you'll need:

A graham cracker pie crust (the recipe actually had you get crumbs and use some butter and milk to make your own crust...but I am lazy)
12 tbsp. Chocolate peanut butter powder (I found mine in the protein supplement/healthy food section of the grocery store)
6 tbsp. water
1/4 cup Weight Watchers whipped cream cheese, room temp
1 Weight Watchers giant chocolate ice cream bar, melted
3 cups light whipped topping

Combine the chocolate peanut butter powder and the water. It isn't smooth, at this point, but just mix it up the best you can. Whisk together the cream cheese and the melted chocolate bar, add that to the peanut butter mixture. It should start to smooth out at this point, but there might still be some lumps. Fold in the whipped topping and pour the whole mess into the crust.

Put it in your freezer overnight or for several hours. I cut mine right out of the freezer and I had to really work at it, so you could probably let this thaw just slightly before trying to cut it to serve.

The recipe says that it's 5 SP for 1/12 of the pie. I am here to tell y'all that eating only a 1/12 piece of pie is an impossible task. So...I cut mine into eight pieces and said the heck with it.

It was worth every point. So good, so easy, and so delicious during a super hot Texas summer day.

It's August!

People! It is officially my birthday month!

Two months ago, I told everyone want I want for my birthday this year. For my 36th birthday I am raising money for animal rescue. So, for June and July I have badgered and begged all over social media for pledges.

My goal was to raise $496, equal the $ amount for every day of this month. And as of right now, I have collected $703.50 in donations! *que the glitter cannons*

We blew my initial goal out of the water. I am amazed and humbled. But, I don't want to call it good. We still have a whole month. And I'm feeling ambitious. So, I'll still be badgering and begging all over social media for this month. Who knows, maybe we will manage to raise $1000.

If you'd like to donate to my big birthday fundraiser, you can do here: gofundme.com/bigbirthday
Every dollar counts and it's all going to a very worthy rescue.

Ask, and you shall receive

 

Black bean and butternut squash enchilada casserole

 

 

What you'll need:

 

2 cups butternut squash, cubed

1 tbsp. olive oil

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 can corn, drained and rinsed

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

Salsa, enough to cover the bottom of your baking dish

6 whole wheat tortillas, small

1 cup light sour cream

1 cup enchilada sauce

Shredded cheddar cheese, fat free

Cumin

Garlic powder

Chili powder

Salt and pepper

 

Pre-heat the oven to 375.

 

Line a baking sheet with tinfoil, spray down with non-stick spray. Place the butternut squash and bell peppers on baking sheet. Toss veggies with olive oil and season with cumin, garlic powder, and chili powder. Roast for about 30 minutes or until the butternut squash is fork tender.

 

On the same baking dish, combine the corn and black beans with the roasted veggies. Salt and pepper to taste.

 

Put enough salsa to cover the bottom of your baking dish (I used a 2.5 qt. Corningware dish).

 

Place two tortillas down, add some of the veggie mixture, add some of the sour cream (it doesn't have to totally cover the layer under it), add some of the enchilada sauce, sprinkle on some cheese. Repeat those steps until you have filled your baking dish.

 

Cover with a lid or tinfoil and bake for 25 minutes.

 

Uncover and bake for 10 more minutes.

 

This will service 4-6 people, depending on how big you cut the pieces. We just cut ours into four pieces, so one serving was 9 Smart Points.