Ham Dinner to Split Pea Soup in the Slow Cooker

Karl and I had a tasty ham dinner and then I took the bone and extra meat and made split pea soup in the slow cooker! Delicious.

From this....

Healthy ham dinner

Slow Cooker Split Pea Sausage (I used ham...) Soup
Serves 6-8
recipe found on All Recipes

1 pound dried split peas
10 cups water
1 pound smoked sausage of your choice, sliced (i used ham and ham bone)
5 cubes chicken bouillon
1 1/2 cups chopped carrot
1 cup chopped celery
2 potatoes, peeled and chopped
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 bay leaves
1 onion, chopped

To this....

Delicious Split Pea Soup with Ham bone

Directions
 
1.In a 5 quart slow cooker, combine the peas, water, sausage, bouillon, carrot, celery, potatoes, garlic powder, oregano, bay leaves, and onion.


2.Cover, and cook on High for 4 to 5 hours. Remove bay leaves before ladling into bowls.

Karl's reaction: "Not totally a fan of split pea soup, but this is actually good babe. Mmmmm."
 
My take: I loved this recipe. Will make again. So easy to make!!!

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Seared Pork Tortas

A nice little sandwich, except don't do what I did and burn the baguette. I had to improvise with buns!

Seared Pork Tortas
4 servings
recipe found on My Recipes

Don't burn the bread....

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 (2-ounce) boneless center-cut pork loin chops (1/4 inch thick)
1 (12-ounce) baguette, cut in half horizontally
1/2 cup canned pinto beans, rinsed and drained
2 tablespoons refrigerated fresh salsa
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/4 cup thinly sliced onion
1 large tomato, cut into 8 (1/4-inch-thick) slices
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
1/2 ripe peeled avocado, cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices
Directions

1. Preheat broiler.


2. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Combine cumin and salt; sprinkle evenly over pork. Add pork to pan; cook 2 minutes on each side or until done. Let stand 5 minutes; cut into thin slices.

3. Hollow out top and bottom halves of bread, leaving a 3/4-inch-thick shell; reserve torn bread for another use. Place bread halves, cut sides up, on a baking sheet. Broil 2 minutes or until golden brown.

4. Place beans and salsa in a small bowl; mash with a fork until almost smooth. Spoon bean mixture into the bottom half of baguette. Top with pork, cheese, onion, tomato, jalapeño, avocado, and top half of baguette. Cut into 4 pieces.

Karl's reaction: "Not bad babe. Lots of flavor. Hey...what did you do to the bread??"

My take: Very good. Mad about the stupid bread, but love the spice to this sandwich, and the avocado.

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Orzo with Roasted Vegetables

A bit of a pain to make, but Karl and I love this recipe. It's really fresh tasting and makes our house smell really good when all the veggies are roasting in the oven.

Orzo with Roasted Vegetables
serves 6
recipe found online (Better Homes and Garden)

Love this stuff. Who would've thought eggplant could taste so good?

1 small eggplant, peeled and 3/4-inch diced
1 red bell pepper, 1-inch diced
1 yellow bell pepper, 1-inch diced
1 red onion, peeled and 1-inch diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup good olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 pound orzo
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
1/3 cup good olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 scallions, minced (white and green parts)
1/4 cup pignolis (pine nuts), toasted
3/4 pound good feta, 1/2-inch diced (not crumbled)
15 fresh basil leaves, cut into thin strips
(I also add chicken for more protein. A rotisserie works great!)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Toss the eggplant, bell peppers, onion, and garlic with the olive oil, salt, and pepper on a large baking sheet. Roast for 40 minutes, until browned, turning once with a spatula.

2. Meanwhile, cook the orzo in boiling salted water for 7 to 9 minutes, until tender. Drain and transfer to a large serving bowl.

3. Add roasted vegetables to the orzo, scraping all the liquid and seasonings from roasting pan into the pasta bowl. I add chicken at this time too.

4. For the dressing, combine lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper and pour on orzo and vegetables. Cool to room temperature. Add the scallions, pignolis, feta, and basil. Check the seasonings; serve at room temperature. Makes 6 servings.

Karl's reaction: "Ohhh babe, I love this recipe. I always forget how good this tastes. Yummy goodness in my tum."

My take: I really do love this. It's a pain in the butt to make, but the outcome is worth it.

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Chicken Enchiladas

Okay...okay....not the healthiest but these are so GOOD and serve a ton of people! My church usually makes these during Lent.

Chicken Enchiladas
serves 12
recipe from Barb Halverson and Jim Wright (Transfiguration Lutheran Church members)

Best chicken enchiladas on the planet

1 (20 oz.) package of chicken breasts (I use a rotisserie chicken)
1/2 onion, chopped
1 (10-3/4 oz.) can cream of chicken soup
1 (19-oz.) can of enchilada sauce
1 (8-oz) carton sour cream
1 small can chopped green chillies
8 oz shredded taco cheese
1 package of 10-inch flour tortillas
Pace Picante sauce

Directions

1. Cook chicken or pull meat and chop into bite size. Saute onion. Add into a large mixing bowl with soup, enchilada sauce, sour cream and chillies. Set aside 1/4 of this sauce mixture.

2. Spray baking dish with Pam for easier cleanup. Lay out flour tortillas. Add some cheese, a strip of sauce mixture, then chicken. Roll the tortilla and place in 13 x 9 baking dish, seam side down. Keep repeating until dish is full.

3. Cover tortillas with remaining sauce mixture. Cover with remaining cheese.

4. Bake, uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve with Picante sauce.

5. If made in advance, keep in refrigerator. Cook 40 to 50 minutes.

Karl's reaction: "Yesss, you made these!! Love these!"

My take: I get these crazy cravings for this recipe. What can I say? It's tasty.

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Roasted Salmon Recipe - Mediterranean

Mediterranean Salmon
serves 2
recipe found in Snacking in the Kitchen blog

Awesome salmon recipe

Olive oil
2 4-6 ounce salmon fillets (skin removed and wild over farm raised)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tomato, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
10 green olives, roughly chopped
1 shallot, finely diced
2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
fresh dill
1 lemon, sliced
2-4 tablespoons of wine (I used Sauvignon Blanc)


Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut out 2 large pieces of parchment paper (about 14 by 14"). Lightly coat one half of the parchment with olive oil. Place one salmon fillet on half of the parchment paper. Season with salt and pepper. Top the salmon with half of tomatoes, bell pepper, olives, shallot and garlic.

2. Drizzle the salmon and vegetables with a little bit of olive oil. Cover with sprigs of dill and lemon slices. Drizzle the fish with wine.

3. Now make a pouch out of parchment paper. Fold the parchment paper in half, covering the salmon. Start folding from one end, going all the way to the other end. Be sure the fish is completely enclosed and secure. If needed, use staples to hold the parchment shut.


4. Place the parchment pockets on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes in the oven. Be careful when serving - opening the parchment pockets will release a lot of steam - don't get burned.


Karl's reaction: "This is really good! Are these green olives in here? This is different. I like this recipe."

My take: Will be making this one again for sure. The parchment paper is a bit of a pain but this is so easy to cook and put together! You can't help but feel healthy after eating this. Loved the dill.

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Getting My Workout Groove Back - Month 4

week 16
Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length . Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. (info found at babycenter.com)

This must be the time when my belly really starts growing if little K is going to hit his/her growth spurt after this week. Fun stuff!!! I kind of accepted now that my body is going to change, and it's okay. I'm carrying and creating life, which is just crazy to think about. I haven't stopped taking care of myself. So it's okay that I'm gaining weight. I still eat well. I'm working out (again!!!) and I get lots of sleep. I'm just happy I'm not craving sweets and desserts. Then I'd be doomed!!!

I met with my personal trainer Josh for an hour on Sunday after church for a new workout program. I was nervous since I haven't really lifted since week five. I wasn't sure how my body would handle. Josh put together a nice simple workout with a variety. And yes, I was very sore the following day but at least I know even simple workouts (if done right) can really work the muscles. It's pretty cool.

Stability ball workouts (squatting with the ball behind my back with weights and also sitting on it doing core and breathing exercises) and push ups on a bar and a lot of core focused exercises on the mats (no lying flat on back though). I need to remember to pull my belly button in and breathe from my stomach not my chest.

I felt pretty good after the workout and went to Lifetime Fitness again yesterday.  I did 15 minutes on the stair stepper and about 50 minutes of lifting. I left the gym on a high. Working out really makes me feel like me, and gives me the energy I need. I felt like a new person. And I swear I felt baby K move when I was on the stepper.

Josh also gave me some reading material (from the American College of Sports Medicine) on being pregnant and exercising, and I thought the information was too good not to share. Some of the benefits:

1. Reduction of chances of getting gestational diabetes (especially if BMI is already over 33).
2. Reduction in risk of developing pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH).
3. Fewer obstetric interventions (vacuum extraction, forceps).
4. Reduction in the 'active stage' of labor (the time from 4-10 cm dilation).
5. Research has suggested that the incidence of cesarean section may be lower in women who exercise during their pregnancy.
6. Increase in maternal well being.
7. Increase sense of control.
8. Increase energy.
9. Improved sleep.
10. Improved self-image.
11. Quicker return to pre-pregnancy weight.
12. Control of excess weight gain.
13. Increased likelihood of continued postpartum exercise.
14. Decreased incidence of loss of bladder control during pregnancy and postpartum.
15. Reduction in bone density loss during the lactation state
16. Reduction in common pregnancy complaints (hemorrhoids, leg cramps, back pain, etc.)

Then, there are even benefits to the infant!!!!

1. Infants have less body fat at birth, possible connection to Cardiovascular Risk Profile in adulthood.
2. Infants are less cranky, have a reduction in the incidence of infant colic.
3. Greater neurodevelopments scores in oral language and motor areas (tested at age 5).

How can you not just want to get up and work out, even when you'd much rather snuggle up on the couch? Even 15 minutes helps!!! How do you get yourself to the gym when it's the last thing on your mind?           

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Feeling Fluttering in My Belly - Month 4

15 weeks

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. (http://www.babycenter.com/)

Last Friday I noticed a bit of twitching and fluttering in my stomach on my drive down to Roscoe. Then came Saturday night and the same thing. I thought, could this be gas??? This Friday I was sitting down with Karl on the couch and I felt more twitching and fluttering in my stomach. I made him put his hand on my stomach and he felt it a little too. Super exciting. We both thought that it could possibly be gas again, but not once has my gas ever felt like that. And I read in all four of my baby books that some women with slender tummies do feel a sense of fluttering and twitching in their stomach earlier on - and yes, that is the baby!!!!

Then my mind went all kinds of crazy on me. All of a sudden I pictured my parents in the exact same place 32 years ago when I was in my mom's belly. Were they doing the same thing? What thoughts were going through their minds? Did they feel like we did at that exact moment? Then Karl and I started talking about how excited we are - still nervous - but excited more so than anything. This is getting fun! He's going to be such a good, loving dad!!


The FREE stroller I scored!

I scored big time yesterday too. I went on my usual 40 minute walk through the fancy neighborhoods of Shakopee and noticed a lot of people were cleaning out their houses and garages. There on the driveway of a fancy, big house was a nice stroller with the sign "free" on it. I looked around wondering if this could be true. It was a stroller for twins but looked so nice. I couldn't imagine myself just taking it so I rang the doorbell and a nice grandma answered. I asked about the stroller and she said that she's tried to donate it but nobody will come pick it up and her grand kids have outgrown it, so she just wanted to see if anyone would take it off her hands. I sure did!!! Score! So I wheeled it home and it was easy to drive. I figure if I won't be using it, my parents or Karl's parents can when more grand kids start coming.

Yesterday Karl and I also met his parents and their neighbors at Schell's Brewery in New Ulm. Not the ideal place for a prego lady, but it was still a lot of fun. As my mother-in-law was talking to me, I started to feel real funny so I reached for my water and chugged it down. I started to feel super light headed and hot. So I walked away from her and sat down. My legs felt incredibly heavy and tired and the room started to close around me. I began sweating. I peeled off my down coat, and then sweater. I tried to flag down Karl but he was too busy chatting. Sweat started dripping down my chest and forehead. Then Karl looked at me and I waved him over. I felt awful. He had me walk outside where the cool air hit me and I felt tons better but instantly I was freezing down to my bones. What on earth was that???? Karl swears it's a panic attack, but I think it's more like dehydration or something. I don't know. Dang. Then I was in church this morning and the same thing started to happen. I looked at the cross and was like..."NO! Not in church." And I was okay.

I met with my trainer this morning and he has a great program put together for me. I'm excited about it. And I felt great after. During, though, he had me do some serious deep breathing and then the same thing happened. The room started closing in and the black cloud of whatever took over my head and I said, "I think I'm going to faint." So he had me stop and I was fine. What the?

Right now I feel pretty exhausted and have been drinking a ton of water, hoping that will help. Anyone else have this happen? I know I haven't been drinking as much water because I'm sick of going to the bathroom 4-6 times during the night. But I guess that's no excuse!

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