June 30, 2011

It's a Keeper




In my last post, I wrote about a clay cooker that we had just purchased, and I couldn't wait to use it.

I must say, the roast we cooked in it was so delicious.

Needless to say, this new gadget is a keeper.

I am anxious to try a meatloaf in it next - from what I have been told, it is the best way to cook one.

In the cooker I have, the bottom portion is glazed on the inside,

I couldn't get over how easy it was to clean it up.

A small soaking, and all the cooked on grease came right off.

Since the top part is all clay, and unglazed, the book said not to use soap directly on it as it would absorb it and ruin it.

It cleaned fairly easily, but it does leave grease stains behind.

It was gorgeous before I used it, but this is all just part of the seasoning of the cookware, and pretty soon it will all look the same again.

Of that I am sure as I will be using it regularly!


 

 






June 25, 2011

Clay Cooker




A new cooking gadget has arrived in the household.

We picked up a clay roasting cooker, brand new, at a really fancy yard sale last weekend.

It was still in the box - she had never used it, and she included a cookbook to go with it.

I have been chomping at the bit all week to use this cooker, but with the summer heat, it is just not the best time of the year to cook roasts.

After a run to the supermarket on this rainy day, we now have a beef roasting in the oven.

This cookware needs to be soaked in water so the clay can absorb it and "steam" the meat as it cooks it.

It is supposed to be quite moist and succulent - so the cookbook says.

It cooks in a really high oven though - 425 degrees.

The heat does feel good on this damp, cold day.

I will post more about how this meal turned out in the future.

The house is smelling good, and I can't wait to taste that roast!


 

 






June 18, 2011

Taking it Slow and Easy




In a previous post, I wrote about my experience the first time we went swimming this season.

Getting winded was a first for me while swimming, and it made me think about what I should be doing to build up my endurance.

Since that time, over two weeks ago, I have taken a new approach.

One can't just rush into it as one did when they were younger.

I wasn't getting tired, so that was a good thing.

My arms and legs are in better shape than they had been in any previous season - the weights I have been using have done wonders.

So, I wasn't short on strength either.

My new plan, take it slow and easy once I was totally in the water.

Swim steady with long slow strokes - no short fast ones - there is no race to get to.

And what a world of difference that has made.

I can swim a much farther distance than I ever have this early in the season - all without getting winded or tired.

Looking forward to a long summer with long swims!


 

 






June 13, 2011

Newtons Fruit Thins

Article first published as There's Fiber in These Newtons on Blogcritics.




There is a new kind of Newtons on the market.

The Sunday paper had a coupon to save a $1.00 on these Fruit Thins, so I cut it out just in case they happened to be affordable.

I forgot all about them until I came across a display in the supermarket, and they also had a $1.00 coupon attached to them as a promotion.

Since this brought the price down even more, a package of the Raspberry Chocolate variety made its way into the cart.

With two grams of fiber per serving of three thins, I figured there could be worse things out there to have as a treat.

And to me, one of the most important things, there were no hydrogenated fats in them.

So, how did they taste?

I really liked them, but the the boys didn't want any more than their first ones - they were not impressed.

I thought they satisfied the need for crunch and chocolate.

They were not too sweet - that's what I think the boys didn't like - they really like the sugar.

There were quite a few raspberry seeds in them too, which they also didn't care for.

Would I buy them again?

You bet, and I just love the fact that they are all mine!

 

 






June 10, 2011

Affordable Medicine

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Pharmacist

 

The headache was beginning to get out of control - time to get the ibuprofen into the system so it could help me out.

But the bottle on the shelf only had one left in it - that was not going to help at all.

Off to Walgreens my husband went with specific instructions to purchase the correct ones.

Only the Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products fill our cabinet since they work just a good as the name brands, and they save us so much money.

He is all for saving money, so he made sure to get the right stuff.

We also discovered that Walgreens Way to Well Fund™ gets a donation each time one of their health and wellness products is purchased.

That makes us feel like we are doing something good for others too - all the more reason to use their products.

This fund helps support preventative services and education in our local community.

You can learn more about this program here: walgreens.com/waytowell

If you have also tried any Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products, with as good results as I have, then these giveaways and contests are for you.

My husband made it back from town in good time with just the right medicine for my headache.

He is as sold on these products as I am!  Advertisement

 

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June 6, 2011

Keeping Out the Bugs



They seem to be more numerous this year.

The bugs, that is.

The battle with the ants began just about as soon as the snow was gone - they didn't waste any time coming in.

The black flies were not too bad this year though - I think it gone too warm too early, and that just did them in.

The mosquitoes are worse than ever and from what I have been reading about them, using repellent has become a must to avoid what they carry in our area.

We picked up some of the sprays and dry granules that we spread around the house perimeter.

I am not a big fan of these chemicals, but the bugs will be all through the house if we don't use them.

And they are so expensive.

We were lucky enough to find some rebates on the dry ones.

On sale a three pound bag was $9.99, and after the rebate, it cost $2.99.

We usually go through two to three bags each season, so that certainly helps with the costs.

We are trying a boric acid mixture with the ants this year.

It takes time for it to work, but it beats all those poison sprays in the house.

Don't really like using bug repellent on the skin, but since we need it, we picked up a can of the good stuff for .99 cents after the rebate.

Might as well do ourselves in as cheaply as we can!


 

 






June 2, 2011

No Pussy Footing Around



Our first day for swimming at the lake was on Tuesday.

We made it by the skin of our teeth to claim May for swimming.

We thought the water was going to be cold - it always is at the beginning of the season.

We made a pact on our walk down to the water's edge.

Our motto for this year:  No Pussy Footing Around.

No taking forever to get wet as we tiptoe in - just keep walking and dunk under.

That's a tall order for me - I'm one of those really slow ones, especially when it's cold.

But to our surprise - the water was absolutely gorgeous - I beat my husband in.

And by being so gung-ho, I headed for the lines per usual.

I made it and started swimming along them, but for the first time ever, I lost my breath.

I headed back so I could touch bottom and get myself back to normal.

I was so pleased with the strength in my arms and legs, I wasn't paying attention to my endurance.

I need to really work on that .

I know the swimming will help build it up, but that was a scary moment that I will not let happen again.

The exercises I have been doing all along are great, but they don't do much for stamina and endurance.

Swimming will work for the summer, but I will have to find something for the rest of the year.