A new recipe to share - Gingerbread Oatmeal!

Oh, I've missed this blog.  I enjoy sharing with all of you...actually, maybe there are just a few of you readers!  However few there are, I love blogging.  :)

So!  I have a really tasty recipe to share.  Slow Cooker Gingerbread Oatmeal.
Yes...it's just as yummy as it sounds.  It just so happens, it have a batch cooking right now and it smells soooooo good!  In today's batch I added a chopped apple, some chopped walnuts and a few dried cranberries.  Just because I could!

Here's a pic from the site The Lemon Bowl, where I found the recipe.

Photo credit: The Lemon Bowl

At first taste, I wondered if the flavors were too strong.  The spices and molasses and all.
Ummm.  Nope. After that first bowl, I was hooked.  Of course I still add my usual toppings, as I do to ALL my oats.  Sliced banana and a dollop of plain greek yogurt.  A sprinkle of chia seeds and whole ground flax seeds.
Oats are a filling, hearty and nutritious way to start my day and I never tire of them.  Yum.

Here's the recipe for this latest addition to my fave recipes.  For a printer friendly version, click through to the original post at The Lemon Bowl.  The link is above.

Slow Cooker Gingerbread Oatmeal

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

8 hours

Total time

8 hours 5 mins

This cozy breakfast is full of warm spices like cinnamon, cloves and ginger then drizzled with molasses, brown sugar and chopped pecans. Perfect for busy weekday mornings or a make-ahead dish for lazy weekends!

Author: Liz DellaCroce | The Lemon Bowl

Recipe type: Breakfast

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2 cups milk
• 1 cups water
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup Bob's Red Mill Steel Organic Cut Oats
• chopped pecans, brown sugar and molasses - optional garnish to serve

Instructions

1. Spray the slow cooker insert with cooking spray.
2. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
3. Cook overnight on low for 8 hours.
4. In the morning, stir oatmeal with a fork to loosen the steel cut oats and make sure everything is fully incorporated.
5. Serve warm with chopped pecans and additional brown sugar and molasses to taste.

Notes

For easier clean-up and to avoid the slight "crusty" residue inside the slow cooker, place all ingredients in a glass bowl that fits into the slow cooker then add enough water to fill the lower half of the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 cup Calories: 301 Fat: 7 g Saturated fat: 1.9 g Unsaturated fat: 5.1 g Trans fat: 0 Carbohydrates: 48.8 g Sugar: 12.5 g Sodium: 360 mg Fiber: 7.1 g Protein: 9.6 g Cholesterol: 10 mg

Eat up and enjoy!

 

Sole Sisters Race Team!

I've been intending to share some photos from a 5k race that I did last month.  This time I formed a race team.  Several of my friends have never participated in a race and they really wanted to give it a try.  They suggested I form a team...so we became the Sole Sisters race team.

Of course, I enjoy participating in races.  I've talked about that on my blog in the past.  But, racing as part of a team made it even more fun!  There were 6 members in our team for the Autumn on Parade race, in nearby Oregon, IL.  Some of us walked (yes, I was one!) and some ran.  Some did a combination of both.  Some of us kept passing other members as they switched from running to walking.  Nothing like a little friendly competition!

I'll leave you with a couple of photos from race day.  Fun times with fun friends!

From left to right: me, Tina (in pink, of course), Sandy, Connie, Janie & Rhonda

From left to right in my car (no, I was not driving at the time!): Tina, Janie and me

Way back in August I signed up for the Gobbler Gallup 5k Race that will be held this Saturday, November 21st.  Yeah, I know what the weather can be like in northern Illinois this time of year.  But, I hadn't bargained for what the weather forecast is saying now.    What have I gotten myself into???

A facebook post (below)  by a local meteorologist...Candice King.

Candice King - First Warn Weather Chief Meteorologist

10 hrs · Edited ·

Winter Storm Watch in effect for all of N. IL and S. WI beginning Friday evening. This could potentially be a big, first snow with totals over 6". Let's start planning now for travel during that time. Good news it will be coming over a weekend. Looks like we are going to dive right onto winter!
It is important to note that this is still 36 hours out, and this forecast could change.

YIKES!

Spaghetti Squash - What was I waiting for?

I don't know why it took me so long to try spaghetti squash.  But...I finally did.  Guess what?
I love it!  It tastes similar to some other squashes, but of course, the texture is different.  After trying the recipe I'll link to, and liking it so much, I can think of so many other possibilities for using this tasty vegetable.

The recipe I tried is Tomato Basil Spaghetti Squash Bake.  Just click through to go to the recipe on the site Alaska From Scratch.

First...I looked for some basic instructions for baking the squash.  It was SO simple.
HERE is the link.  I chose the oven baking method.  Yummm.  It was tasty just out of the oven, before making it into a casserole.

This photo of the finished casserole came from the blog where I found the recipe.  That's because I forgot to take a photo of mine before cutting it into pieces to store in the fridge.  Ooops.

Photo Credit: Alaska From Scratch

Anyway, I hope you'll try this recipe.  It's SO good!

I'm thinking that next time I make this, I'll add some chopped jalapeno peppers.  Or some chopped spinach.  Or mushrooms.  See?  Lots of possibilities.

Enjoy!

Distance Walking

Hi!  I see a lot of articles in magazines and online, sharing info and tips for running.  But very rarely any info on distance walking.  I did some searching and came across THIS PAGE that has some great information.  It mentions Chi Walking, which I know nothing about, but all the other info applies to any of us who distance walk.  Lots of great info there, so I hope you check out the link above!

I also want to share a quote I came across, that really spoke to me.

Yes.  Sometimes going out for a walk, I look deeply inward.

Sometimes I pray.

It's a time to think about many things.  Thinking about me, thinking about those I love, thinking about God.

I am so very thankful that I am healthy and able to walk long distances.  I am truly blessed!

Slow Cooker Frittata

Hi, I'm sharing a new-to-me recipe today.  I knew this was going to be an especially busy weekend, so I went browsing for an easy, but healthy recipe.  This time I wanted to use my slow cooker.

You would think that it would be easy to find something that fit all 3 requirements, wouldn't you?
Easy, healthy and in a slow cooker.  Ummm.  Not so easy.

But, I eventually found this.  Slow Cooker Spinach and Mozzarella Frittata.  Just click the link I provided, to get the recipe.  I made one change to the recipe, by adding 1 jalapeno pepper, diced.

***edited to add:  Another change I made.  I used all whole eggs.

Here's a photo of my finished fritatta.

I thought it might be difficult to remove it from the slow cooker.  But as you can see, I manged to loosen it then slide it out onto a plate.  Oh, in case you're wondering.  It is delicious!

I WILL be making this one again.  Yummmmm.

If you try this recipe, please let me know what you thought of it.  Just leave a comment here on my blog  OR use the "contact me" option in the right hand side bar of my blog.

Enjoy!

Stress, food and our bodies

A couple of months ago I began following a blog written by Min, who is a registered dietician.  Her blog is titled MJ & Hungryman.  I'm learning so much from her blog!  And it's not only info about food.  She also shares information about stress and anxiety, cortisol and gratitude.

That's just a few of the topics that she talks about.  She also share recipes, links to additional information and recommends books.  I've not read any of the books, so I can't personally recommend any of them.  Anyway, she is a wealth of information and I love her writing style.

I'm sharing a few links to some individual posts that have really spoken to me.

Gratitude - A natural way to fight stress and axiety
 
How to reduce cortisol naturally

4 Healthy ways to handle food cravings

All of these post are well worth the few minutes it takes to read them.  Truly useful information that is easy to read.  I hope you'll click through and check out Min's blog.  :)

Christmas Cards already!

Well, since it's July...it must be time to get started on my Christmas cards.  Right???
*********Edited to add*******
Ack!  I can't believe I created and posted my card making post to my personal blog, instead of to my card & crafting blog Procraftinaion.  Wow.  Oh well, I can't un-publish this post.
Hope you like the change of topic!
Here goes.

I know.  Most people don't want to think about anything to do with winter right now.  But, since I send out quite a few Christmas cards I HAVE to start early!

I got my inspiration for all of these cards from several cards designed by Maile Belles.  Her clean and simple, yet elegant style, always manages to inspire me.  Love her cards!
HERE is a link to her blog.
And HERE is a link to the post that inspired my first group set of cards.

These last 2 photos are closeups of some of the cards above.  Maybe you can see a bit better, the card stock layered triangles I added.

Next is a set of cards, all using the same Christmas tree die set and the same sentiment.  I just changed up the placement of the patterned papers on the trees.  I used a combo of score tape and foam tape to layer the sections of the tree, to add some dimension.

These cards were such fun to create!

Thanks so much for taking a look,