Sorry it's been awhile - Update - New Job, New house, New Puppy, Oh my!

Hello Readers!
    Sorry it's been awhile, my life has been in upheaval for the last few months. In January I started a new job, I left working at the school and nannying behind. I miss the kids but am loving my new job and the newly found stability of a larger paycheck. In April, I bought my first home (posts to come about that FUN process). And in May I adopted my wonderful puppy Sadie, a pitbull/hound mix. I will be back, I'm working on some posts now, new recipes, gardening tips for those like me who have a "brown thumb," some home buying advice, and some puppy adopting/buying/training advice. With so much going on in my life the only thing I need to do is decide where to start! I'd love some comments to know what you all would like to hear about!

Until we meet again here is a picture of my beautiful little Sadie (@SimplySadieLoungingLuna on Instagram)

How to cut an Avacado

So sounds pretty simple right, just cut it open and bam perfect avacado pieces, wrong. There's a pit in there, and they're all squishy and just pretty stinking hard to deal with until I found these tips, so here's how I cut my avacados!

 Carefully cut the avacado in half and then simply turn it (like a rubics cube, two hands) and separate the sides. I already ate half of this one then saved it (see bottom) but usually you will have two sides full of "meat."

 To remove the pit, carefully hold the avacado in your hand (the first time you may want to set it one a plate and keep your hands away) take your knife and chop at the pit, you aren't trying to cut through it just get your knife in there. After your knife is in the pit hold the avacado firmly and turn the avacado, the pit should come right out.

 Next cut horizontally along the avacado all the way to the outside (but not through the outer layer).

 Next cut vertically, the same as before (skip this slice if you want large pieces).

 All you have to do now is turn the peel inside out and bam - avacado slices.

If you aren't going to use it all right away, use the side without the pit first, no matter what is left, put both sides together and keep it in a baggie in the fridge.

Corn and Potato Soup

I am going to call this poor girl's healthy(ish) corn chowder. This is another one of my creations that I love. Not long ago I bought a 10lb. bag of potatoes at Costco and this recipe is helping me use those up! I used to make potato soup like my mom does, a ham bone (yum) and lots of fat. When I was volunteering in Mexico in 2012 I couldn't find chicken stock to use in my soup but they have a wonderful thing I can only really describe as corn stock. I have yet to be able to find it here in the states, I have come close with corn soups, so here is my U.S. adaptation of that potato soup.

Corn & Potato Soup

• 5-10 potatoes (Sometimes I peel them, sometimes I don't- always chop them up small)
• 1-2 containers of chicken stock
• 1-2 cans cream corn
• 1 can corn (do NOT drain)
• 1-2 Finely Chopped Carrots
• 1/2 Onion
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• Butter to taste (optional)
• Sometimes I throw in some garlic
• If I have a ham bone, I usually use that too (cook the ham bone in the soup, after awhile cut off the ham and throw it in, also great to do for fresh green beans)

Stir it pretty frequently, let it simmer for an hour or so. Once the potatoes are cooked I mash them up a little but I like my soup pretty chunky. If you like a soupier soup (great word I just made up) add some water in too (I always rinse out my corn cans and throw the water in the soup for flavor). Soup it delicious and it freezes well!

Easy and Inexpensive Vegetable Soup (Meat Optional)

This soup has kind of been a trial and error dish developed over the last few months. Growing up my mom never used recipes, so every time I ask her how to make something I get the same answer "I don't know I use whatever I have," which for a long time I replied, "Mom, I keep trying but everything I make tastes like crap." Well I am starting to get the hang of it. I started out with just veggies, but decided to add some ground turkey for a heartier meal. Here's my basic vegetable soup recipe.

Vegetable Soup

• Browned Ground Turkey (Optional)
• 1 Can Corn
• 1 Can Green Beens
• 1/2 head of Cabbage Chopped up
• 1 Large Can of Tomatoes
• 1 Container Vegetable Stock
• 3-6 chopped carrots
• 1/2 onion chopped
• Oregano to Taste (I use a LOT so I can cut down on salt)
• Garlic (optional)
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• I rinse out all of the above cans with a little water and throw that in too.

• Let it simmer for 45 min- 2 hours. Stir Occasionally.

This soup tastes amazing it is sweet and savory, and perfect on a warm winter night. Feel Free to experiment with other vegetables. I throw in whatever is in my fridge and needs eaten. One day I will try with all fresh vegetables, right now on a budget these are things I generally have at home. This is a very healthy and hearty soup this recipe as listed could feed a good sized family for under $10.00.

Please let me know what additions you make and how they turn out!

My Favorite Discoveries of 2013

So every year we uncover a few more things we never knew existed, or never knew we could enjoy here are a few of the revelations, products, and places I discovered in 2013 that I am particularly glad I found. So in no particular order...

• Downtown Detroit  - Call me crazy but it is a beautiful city! I now there are many problems for the city but it is truely an architectual marvel and an amazing city.
• Cumin - Don't get me wrong I knew it existed but had before 2013, but didn't start to really explore it's uses and enjoy it until last year!
• Garlic - Another one that I clearly knew existed but never truely loved until this past year, now I use it, a lot, and I love it. 
• I am a hell of a lot stronger than I have ever given myself credit for- 2013 was a rough year, I mean rough. Health problems, relationships ending, living paycheck to paycheck, it's been rough. I found the strength to leave an awful relationship, and I maintain leaving someone is much harder than being left. I had surgery, got glasses, and dealt with some personal medical problems I'd rather not share. Though I love, I mean love my job(s) money has been tight, I have learned to budget and make things work, and after a long search on New Years Eve I got offered my first "adult" job!
• My fitbit - This little invention has been amazing, it is like a pedometer on steroids and it syncs with my phone. It counts my steps, water intake, and calorie intake. I only use it for water and steps because the calorie counting isn't the best way for me, but it is great!
• Ground Turkey- So much better for you than ground beef and it tastes the same!
• Crock Pot Meals - Enough said.
• Mom usually does know best - As much as I have fought this and hate to admit this, my mother generally does know what she's talking about. She knows me better than anyone and generally gives pretty good advice. 
• I am a grown up - This one surprised the hell out of me. A quarter of my life is over it's time to start really doing something with my life.

I'm sure there are more, and maybe I'll do round two as I think of more things, but this is all I have for now. I am noticing most are food related, not surprising I do love food! I'd be interested to hear what you all have discovered in 2013, and what those things mean to you!

New and improved Daily "Green Monster" Smoothie

About two years ago I posted my Daily Smoothie Recipe. Since then I have made some edits and changed it up a little bit, both for taste and for the health benefits of various ingredients.

The Base Smoothie:

• Raw Cacao Powder (natural caffeine great if you don't like coffee and don't want to drink pop)
• Low Fat or Greek Vanilla Yogurt  (Sometimes I use Activia for added probiotics)
• Vanilla Almond Milk (I avoid soy milk, it can cause higher estrogen in women and men)
• Rainbow Chard/ Baby Spinach (Both and great for you and have little taste, I prefer the chard)
• Ground Flaxseed
• Cinnamon (Read about the health benefits of cinnamon)
• Frozen Banana (The riper the better, peel them before you freeze them! See my buying/freezing bananas post)
• Frozen Blueberries (cranberries, acai berries, etc.) - for antioxidants
• Protein Powder (again no soy)
• Honey (Read about the health benefits of honey)
• Vanilla

Optional Ingredients:

• Frozen Apple Slices and Cinnamon (Read my post on why apples are awesome)
• Apples and Peanutbutter
• Peanutbutter and Cinnamon
• Anything you want!

Amazing Fall Pumpkin Dip

I have made this dip twice (in the last week) it is amazing. I got the recipe from a friend and decided to make it for my coworkers, my roommate and proceeded to eat most of the first batch so today I made more! It is light and airy and tastes just like pumpkin pie with whip cream!

Ingredients:

• 16 oz. Cool Whip
• 3 Packets Vanilla (or french vanilla) instant pudding
• One can of pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie)
• Pumpkin Pie Spice
• Cinnamon
• 2 tsp. Vanilla (optional, I like it to kick up the flavor)

Instructions:

1. Mix all ingredients (that's it). I actually mix the first three ingredients and the vanilla and then add the cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice to taste, I like a LOT of both, but that is just me!

This dip is great with Nilla wafers, I imagine it would also be great with various sweet breads and graham crackers! Get creative let me know what amazing things you find to pair it with!

If you are watching your weight/sugar feel free to swap the regular cool whip for the lite version and the pudding for sugar free! You can always add more spices to offset the diet taste!