Meatloaf with Barley

It's been a while since I gave you all a new recipe! I made this meatloaf last night and served it with a baked sweet potato, steamed mixed veggies, and a glass of wine (only 3 points!). This meatloaf was super easy and really yummy!

Servings: 6
Preparation Time: 20 min
Cooking Time: 60 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients
2 tsp canola oil
1 medium green pepper, diced
1 small onion, diced
1 large egg, beaten
1 cup cooked barley, quick-cooking suggested
2/3 cups ketchup, divided
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
1/4 tsp dried oregano, crushed
20 oz lean ground turkey
2 sprays cooking spray

Instructions
** Preheat oven to 350 degrees

** Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add green pepper and onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until pepper is tender (about 7 minutes)
** Spoon vegetables into a large bowl; add egg, barley (cooked), 1/4 cup of ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and oregano. Mix well.
** Crumble turkey into vegetable mixture; gently mix to combine (kneading will make the meatloaf tough).

**Coat a 9x5 inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Spoon turkey mixture into prepared pan in an even layer. Spread remaining ketchup over meatloaf. Bake until center of meatloaf is thoroughly cooked; 50-60 minutes.

** Remove meatloaf from oven and let stnd t room temperature for 10 minutes to absorb juices in pan.
** Slice into 6 pieces and serve.

For Weight Watchers People: POINTS® Value: 5

Personal Challenge

Now that I know I am graduating, I have given myself a personal challenge. Right now, I am in between a 14 and a 12 - closer to a 14, but the jeans I have are baggy. For graduation on December 19th, I want to be a solid size 12 - not a tight 12 - a good fitting, comfortable size 12.

When I graduated with my undergrad, I was going through a rough time. I hadn't met David yet, and I had packed on some pounds since High School. I'm far below where I was then, but I want to be lower. I want to be HOT. Even though nobody can see what I'm wearing underneath, I want to KNOW that the outfit I find for Graduation makes me look and feel great about myself and my accomplishments.

So, no more excuses. I have 1 month and 2 days to pull this goal off. I know I can do it ~ and I have motivation!

Chock Full of Veggies Chili

I have to write a review of this chili because it was SO awesome! My mom gave me the recipe, and now that it's a good "chili" night, I made it! David has an aversion to no meat though, so I added meat and a little cheese because that's healthier than sour cream! I can't wait for David to come home from work and try it!!!!! Super super yummy!

~ Ingredients ~
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 bell peppers - any color - chopped
1 1/2 cups chopped mushrooms
1 large onion, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 15-oz cans pinto beans (with juices)
1 14.5 oz can no salt added diced tomatoes (with juices) ~~ We used diced tomatoes with chili peppers in it and it had salt, so I cut the other salt in half
(Optional - 2 lbs lean turkey) ~ We used 1 lb lean turkey and 1 lb lean beef because I forgot to get a second pack of turkey so had to use what I had!

~ Directions ~
In large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add peppers, mushrooms, onion, celery, and garlic. Cook, stirring often, until veggies begin to soften (about 7 minutes). Add chili powder, oregano, cumin, and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.

Add beans and tomatoes with their juices (and meat if you use it). Bring to a gentle simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until chili is fragrant and slightly thickened (25-30 minutes). Serve warm. (I threw a little low-fat cheese on the top)

The original recipe makes 4 2cup servings. With the meat added, 1/2 a cup filled me up, plus added to the bulk, so it can feed more than 4!

~ Nutritional Facts ~
Per 2-cup serving (no meat): 229 calories, 5 g fat, 0.5 g saturated fat, 11 grams protein, 35 g carbohydrate, 12 g fiber, 501 mg sodium

Comp Results are in.....

I PASSED!!!!!!!!!

I had a really shitty day today, so I thought I would check to see if they were up yet. Granted, I knew one of the instructors hadn't even started reading as of Wednesday, so I wasn't expecting much. But, they were in!

I got really good comments on all 3 - good connections, adaptations, community involvement..... everything was great!

So, this week, I'm officially going to go order my cap and gown. I wanted to wait to make sure because the deadline to receive a refund was BEFORE the day I was expecting my comps back, but the deadline to ORDER was after. So, I was just playing it safe so I didn't waste $75 and not get to graduate until May!

Graduation is December 19th (yes, a Friday). I already have a Personal Day approved (it's the last day before Winter Break), so I'm set there also! David made sure he requested the day of and the day after off also so that he can throw me a party! I'll have to work on Saturday since it's the Saturday before Christmas, but we'll either have the party Friday night or Saturday night after work. SO excited!!!

Thanks for all the prayers! Now I have one thing checked off my list ~ wonder what will be next!

Thanksgiving Dinner

A little early.... but we had David's family over for dinner. Matt, my Brother-in-law, is being stationed in New York in a couple weeks, so we had to do dinner early. It was originally supposed to be a "mom will do everything" dinner, but it turned into we did 90% of it. She bought everything, but we cooked it all.

But, here are some random pictures:
One year, my sister taught me how to brine my turkey. Basically, you soak it overnight in a bunch of stuff. The mixture was a little bit of salt (rubbed on the turkey), 2 oranges and 2 lemons cut in wedges, 1 onion cut in wedges, and whatever herbs I wanted to use (I think it was thyme, rosemary, sage, and basil). Oh, and lots of water. It sits in the bag overnight:



When it's time to cook, I do a little extra than most people. I put (clean) herbs all over the turkey - my dad says it looks like I'm camoflauging it! Plus, I squeeze some of the oranges and lemons over it to add a little juice. 3 sticks of unsweetened butter and boxed stuffing and you get:



Our 3-year old and 6 month old nephews were over as well. Dominic came over early - with Grandma - and played with puppies the whole time. They LOVED it! Jazz was the only one not too sure, but she was fine until he tried to pick her up. When the baby got here, Chewy thought he was pretty cool. Nicky didn't like it when Chewy left though, and started crying. Nobody could calm him down, but when Chewy went back over to him, he started smiling!

After everybody left, here's what the dogs were doing:

Jazz and Max were snuggling - Max is really hard to see behind Jazzy's big head!


Chewy was PASSED OUT in the office!

We all survived dinner. We had lots of yummy food and some really good wine from James Arthur Vineyard! We had Two Brothers, Snowy Egret, and Traminette (all 3 semi-sweet whites ~ so yummy!).

They get it!

Last night, we worked on training again with the puppies. They are all doing a really good job and will even sit without getting a treat. Max is doing "okay" with laying down - he doesn't like to be all the way on the floor, but gets most of the way down so we give it to him. I think it's because he's fairly dominant, and if he lays all the way down, someone might attack him? (Even though nobody else is inside at the time!). Toby loves to walk! But, now, he won't sit if he sees I have a treat. He starts walking right away instead of sitting first. Dork.

We're practicing again tonight and David said he would videotape with my camera, or at least take pics!

Ever have one of those days...

Where it seems like nothing goes right?

The kids were crazy at school. My para is upset with me because she chose to not come in until 11:00 yesterday because voting was more important. Okay, fine, whatever. BUT, when you call the office and say "I'll be a little late," they tend to notice when you walk in 2 1/2 hrs after you are supposed to be there! So, somehow that is my fault.

Class was good. We got out early.

But, then I came home and just got into a funk. My friend who is pregnant is having a tough time. She is really scared and doesn't think she can talk about stuff when her boyfriend is around (gee, a sign maybe??). And that just makes me want to scream even more!

I watched my shows - finally caught up on everything - but now I just don't feel like going to bed. I got pissy with David because he kept talking to his partner at work when he was on the phone with me. How stupid is that? He's at work - duh!

I don't want to go to bed. I hate sleeping alone. I miss David. I hate when he's gone for so many days. I haven't been sleeping very well - too much stress probably. I'm just in another funk, and frankly, I'm sick of it. When do WE get to be happy, To not live paycheck to paycheck, to see each other like "normal" married couples, to not have to work multiple jobs, to have a BABY????????????

Sometimes I wonder if I'm really ready to be a mom. Will my moods affect my baby when I'm pregnant? How about after he/she is born? Can I sacrifice the luxuries we do give ourselves if it is for our baby? Do I even deserve a baby? Maybe that's what God is telling us. We can't get pregnant because we don't deserve it. I told my friend tonight that God has plans and we don't always understand them. I swear sometimes I need to listen to my own advice. But I want to know, damn it. It's not fair that He is keeping these things away from me. Why are some of the parents of my students so much younger than me? 2 years ago, one of the parents was remembered by the secretary as being in the 5th grade - the secretary has only been there for 8 years. Do the math. Why did SHE get to have a baby, and I don't? Why do the parents who show up high or can't keep their pants up because they think it's "cool" to show off their ass crack get to have babies - multiple babies - and then make ME, as a tax payer, pay for them to raise that child? And I don't even get ONE baby that WE DESERVE, that will be loved and we will ALWAYS do what is best for that baby.

I need a drink. Bad. Thanks for letting me rant/ramble/vent.... whatever it is. Tomorrow will be better. It has to be.... right?