These Boots Were Made For Walking

I have a degree in Interior Design. Though I am not currently being paid to use it, I am constantly aware of the design world around me. As a design student we were taught that 'form follows function'. The principle idea is that the shape of a building or object should be primarily based on its intended function or purpose.  

Because we live in an almost 800 square foot house, ever inch needs to be utilized carefully. Form follows function definitely needs to be applied in our home. Over the last two years we have been constantly organizing, storing things in our basement, getting rid of things when we realize we have not used them recently. We have been learning what we really need versus what we think we want. 

I LOVE organizing. Seriously, I wish someone would pay me to do so! I love figuring out how and where things should be, and how to do it so that the end result is aesthetically pleasing. Recently I wanted to figure out how to store my boots because they really had no home. They were living in their original boxes in my bedroom, looking ugly on my bookshelf. I searched everywhere for something that would work that I would love. I was about ready to give up, when I came across the boxes shown below. I was randomly wondering around Homegoods (because who doesn't love to spend an hour there looking at everything and nothing), when I found these great boxes! Made out of heavy-duty cardboard, they cost $25 for all three! 

I wanted to share this great find because though these boxes were meant for storing stationary, magazines, etc... I found a different use for them. This was a reminder to me that not all things need to be used for their original purpose, that they can function as something else. That the form can surprise you once the function is revealed!

   

Scott Peacock's Pulled Pork

Here it is, the best pork recipe ever! Super easy to make, you just need time (specifically a day to slow cook it). This is definitely worth setting a Saturday aside for! 

Here is the link to the recipe:

Scott Peacock's Pulled Pork

Pork Shoulder covered in mustard (I used spicy brown mustard instead of Dijon), and spices.

Meat falling off the bone after chilling overnight, roasting for 6 hours and resting for 1 hour.

Meat pulled and ready to eat and freeze!

We ate this with barbecue sauce and homemade coleslaw, delicious! There was plenty of meat to eat over a couple of days, plus we froze 2 freezer bags for future quick meals. My favorite thing to do with this is eat the meat topped with Barbecue sauce topped with coleslaw, eaten like a salad. 

SAD

As I am writing this it is below zero, nobody wants to be out in this weather, especially me.

For years I joked that I could hibernate during the winter, and it was not until this year that I realized I was serious. Obviously I am not a bear, so this is not an option. Also, I don't think my husband or daughter would allow it (they are those crazy type of people who actually like winter).

What I did realize is that I needed to take action. Underlying the daydream of hibernating all winter is the reality that I have SAD, also know as Seasonal Affective Disorder. I have always known I am affected by the change in seasons, I just wasn't sure if it was truly SAD. But, I realized that I am the happiest in the summer and an anxiety filled, cranky zombie in the winter.  I avoid people and social gatherings in the winter, and just want to sleep, eat, repeat.

So this winter I am going to start to work on feeling better, because winter can be long here in the Midwest.  I started taking St.John's Wort, a natural alternative to anti-depressants. It has been shown to help people with mild to moderate depression, especially those suffering from SAD.  As I am not depressed in the summer, I am not willing to go on traditional anti-depressants. I also purchased a light therapy box which I just received today. I am really excited to start using this as I am supposed to feel the effects within a few days ( versus the weeks it will take the St.John's Wort to kick in).  You sit by it for up to 30 minutes in the morning, and it emits light similar to the sun, without the harmful UV rays. 

The most important thing I am doing however is acknowledging that I have SAD. I let my husband and daughter know when I am feeling down. I ask for extra hugs, realize I need to sleep more, and take it a little easier. If I try to do too much, plan too much, I am filled with anxiety. I get cranky and overwhelmed quickly. In fact, that is why I have not been writing too much in the last couple of months. I just don't have the time or energy right now. But, I know as soon as I spot the first crocus flowers in my yard and can crack our windows for some fresh air (even if it is just a balmy 50 degrees out), I will start to feel better.  

So if you are feeling down, maybe experiencing SAD like me, keep in mind there are things you can do about it. Most importantly however is to acknowledge it. Get help from your loved ones. Because as much as you may want to push everyone away and hibernate, your loved ones and friends are the ones that are going to pull you through this long, LONG, season.

Let the sun shine!

Garlic Roasted Chicken on Root Vegetables

Recently I went over to a friends house. While we were chatting in the kitchen, she roasted a chicken. As we kept chatting, the chicken finished roasting and she then carved it up. All of a sudden I said, "you just roasted a chicken while we talked". My humble friend said, "well yes, it's really easy Kari" (or something like that).

Since I began eating meat again last spring, I have been relying heavily on my crockpot.  Roasting something in the oven really scared me, like it would explode or something. As I am not a big fan of following recipes, those also scared me when it came to roasting meat. Now I am asking myself why? It is really easy! 

I asked my friend what her recipe and method were for roasting a chicken. It basically came down to this: 

1. Mix together a couple tablespoons of your favorite herbs and salt with butter or olive oil. 

2. Generously spread it under the skin and on top of the skin.

3. Roast it in a preheated oven at 400 degrees for approximately 2 hours, checking to see if it is done around 1-1/2 hours, then every 20-30 minutes after that. 

4. Baste frequently.

5. Eat!

Now, I know all you meat cooking pros are saying,"yup, it is that easy". But to me it was an epiphany! Now I can not get enough of roasting chickens, and pork shoulders also. 

Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside!

My favorite part!

Here is my new favorite roast chicken recipe. What really makes the meal delicious is the addition of the vegetables that continue to roast in the chicken fat after the chicken is done. I roast the chicken and vegetables in my old lasagne pan. I was excited to find a new use for it as I no longer make lasagna in it!

Garlic Roasted Chicken on Root Vegetables

Ingredients:

3 Large (or 6 smaller) cloves of garlic, minced

2 Tablespoons Bouquet Garni

1 Teaspoon ancho chili pepper ground

1 Teaspoon sea salt

3-4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

-Mix into a paste

5 lb. Chicken

2 Pounds of mixed root vegetables, roughly chopped

1 cup chopped onion (optional)

Lemon pepper (optional)

Extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

-Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

-Chop up the mixed root vegetables, I like to use potatoes and carrots. Put into large roasting pan. Drizzle with a little olive oil and mix. I do this so that the veggies have a little moisture and do not stick. You don't need to use too much because there will eventually be plenty of juices and fat from the chicken.

-Take any extra parts out of the chicken cavity and put into roasting pan (or dispose of, but they do add flavor) rinse and dry off chicken.

-Mix the paste together and spread under the skin and on top of the skin. I like to also grind a little lemon pepper all over the chicken after I use up the paste.

-Set breast side down right on top of the vegetables, or my favorite thing to do is to set it on a rack so that the skin gets crispy and the chicken juices drip down on to the vegetables.

-Roast for 30 minutes, then take out and baste. 

-Continue to cook for 30 minutes, basting every 15-20 minutes.

-After 1 hour, if you are using a rack, turn over so that the breast side is up and the chicken skin can continue to crisp on the breast side. 

-Continue to roast, basting every 15-20 minutes.

-At 1-1/2 hours, check the temperture of the chicken thighs (or you can also see if the juices run clear, but I like to check the temperature). If it reaches 160 degrees, you are done! If not, put it back into the oven and continue roasting and basting, checking at 2 hours. 

-If you are using a 5 pound chicken, and your oven temperature is correct, it should take just about 2 hours.

-After the chicken is done, take it out of the pan and let it rest.  Turn the temperature up to 450 degrees. 

-Pour off some of the chicken juices into a bowl, reserve them. Leave just enough of the juices and fat in the pan to coat the vegetables. Mix the vegetables up in the pan juices, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Put back into the oven and roast for approximately 20-30 minutes more, or until they are cooked the way you like them (we like them browned and crispy). I like to mix them once or twice in that 30 minutes. 

-Once the chicken has cooled down, I like to take the meat off the bones and throw the bones into the crockpot to make bone broth (or the freezer if I do not have time).

-I then like to pour the reserved chicken juices back over the chicken, delicious! You could also make a gravy if you are so inclined. 

The Things We Do For Our Children

In mid-January my family and I went on church retreat to Green Lake, WI. It was a beautiful setting and a nice retreat center.  We had a nice time getting to know people that we had really only said a passing 'hello' to at church. We had some lovely long periods of time to really talk, not just shoot the breeze. 

Though I was the one who suggested that we go, it was not to socialize however. By nature, I avoid those settings. Big groups and lots of loud children running around cause me some serious anxiety. In the main lodge I found myself off to the edge of the room, usually just talking to one or two people. I never sat down and relaxed, because to me it was not a relaxing space. 

Why were we there then? For our daughter Marie. She had a blast! Running around with other children, free to go where she wanted and us knowing there were plenty of responsible parents and teenagers around to help care for her. We went because we want Marie to grow up having these experiences. We want her to be part of a community that is outside of her normally daily life of school and family. We love the idea that even though she will go to different schools during her life, making new friends wherever she goes, she will always have this group to grow up with. 

The ironic thing is that even though we did this for her, we ended up enjoying ourselves also. For an introvert like myself, it is helpful that we have what seems to be an extrovert for a daughter. Someone who pushes me to get outside my shell and meet new people, to have new experiences. 

Though I did avoid the larger group free times, I had a wonderful time hanging out with the people in our small lodge. By chance (probably actually on purpose), we where housed with two other single child families. All of us seem to be somewhat introverted by nature. I only say this because we all found ourselves hanging out in our lodge during free time, and also seemed happy to get back to get our lodge to get our children to bed at a normal hour. Instead of missing out on whatever was going on at the large lodge, we enjoyed spending a few hours together getting to know one and another and letting our children play. We got to see how our single children went from playing by themselves, to playing with each other, to really getting along. It was fun and a learning experience for us. 

I often feel like I am doing something specifically for our daughter. It is not until after the fact that I realize the things I do for her are also beneficial to me. Because of this weekend away, our family has now made two new connections with other families (plus all the other new people we have meet). We have a stronger connection with our faith community. Best of all, Marie will have only wonderful memories of this special weekend away, and I will always have the memory of watching her running around laughing and smiling with pure joy!

New Years 'No Resolutions' Resolution

As you can guess by the title, I do not make New Years resolutions. I have tried in the past, and they never stick. Get more exercise, eat better, lose weight, be a better mother, drink less, have more patience, the list goes on. I feel like a lot of things do improve, but in the end, I still feel like I failed. Then I feel guilty, angry at myself, and usually regress. 

So, I do not make resolutions, I make plans. I do not say, "I will stop snacking at night", because that tends to be a losing battle. What I say is, "I plan to do a Whole30, which makes me eat better, which will make me not snack as often or at all". 

I have two plans for the month of January, starting tomorrow on Monday, January 5th. The first is to start my third Whole30. This will help me eat better, shed a few holiday pounds, not drink alcohol as it is not allowed, be a better mother because I will have more patience while doing it.  Though it would be hard for me to live a Whole30 lifestyle all year long, it is something I will do every few months as a reset. When I complete one, I feel I have learned a little bit more about myself. I feel healthy both nutritionally and emotionally. I am a better person while doing a Whole30. I know this. But I am human, and want to be able to enjoy a glass of wine sometimes, eat some chocolate, enjoy some popcorn while watching a movie. So, that is why I do not live a Whole30 lifestyle year round. 

My second plan, one that is even harder then doing a Whole30 for me, is that I am going to take a month off of Facebook.  Doing a Whole30 is not just about food, it is about breaking bad habits. I love Facebook, maybe a little too much. As an introvert, it allows me to be social without being present. I do not have to have a face to face conversation if I do not want to. I do not even need to talk to someone over the phone, to hear their voice.  My husband and I are the last people of our generation who do not text on our phones, yet, the majority of my conversations are done over Facebook or email. Pretty much the same thing! 

I am hoping by doing another Whole30 and spending less time on Facebook (and the internet in general), I will regain some energy, focus and creativity also. I honestly have not felt like I have had any great things to write about. No wonderful new recipes to share. I think the holidays have completely drained me, like they do a lot of people. So, I am also going to take a month off of my blog to focus on life and bettering myself. I am hoping that I will find some wonderful new things to write about, which I will then be able to share with others in February. 

So, there are my plans for the beginning of the year! I am super excited about starting them tomorrow! I hope everyone enjoys the beginning of 2015, resolutions or no resolutions. 

Happy Holidays and Tasty Kringler!

Sunday we head out of town to southern Minnesota to start our 7 day whirlwind holiday tour. We will be starting in Blue Earth where my grandma lives. Blue Earth, the land of the Jolly Green Giant, ho ho ho!

While I have been packing and checking my lists twice, I often find myself thinking of my grandma and the wonderful memories I have of her and the farm she lives on. One of my favorite memories is eating her delicious Kringler (pronounced Kring-la). For many years I tried to get the recipe from her, but she always made it seem like a secret, and told me it was kind of hard to make.

Finally after she stopped making them, she showed me the recipe in her German Luthern cookbook from her local church. I have to say they are not hard to make. I am not sure if she said that because she thought they were, or if she just wanted to keep them a surprise for me. Either way, I now want to share the recipe because I think they are tasty! Though I avoid gluten and dairy, I would make an exception for these on a special occasion.

Kringler (pronounced Kring-la) 

Makes a couple dozen cookies (depends on the size and shape you choose to use).

Ingredients

1 Pint sour cream

4 Egg yolks

1-1/2 tsp. Almond flavoring

1-1/4 Cups sugar

4 Cups flour

3/4 tsp. Salt

1-1/4 tsp. Baking soda

1-1/4 tsp. Baking powder

Directions

1. Beat the egg yolks, then add in the other ingredients and mix well.

2. Refrigerate 3 hours, to overnight.

3. Take a fist full of dough and roll out into a rope under your hands, approximately 6-8 inches long and 1/2 an inch thick. Form into a figure eight, or into a circle, pinch ends together. It is kind of like making a pretzel, just a different shape. Put on cook sheet(s).

4. Bake 12-15 minutes in a 400-425 degree oven until lightly brown.

5. Watch closely as they should be light brown, you do not want to over bake them.

6. Take off cookie sheet and cool on cookie racks.

7. Serve warm with butter. They are also tasty at room temperature plain.

Below is a link to another version, and there is also a picture of what they look like:

http://www.restenergy.net/blog/2009/08/kringle-a-delicious-norwegian-goodie/

Have a wonderful holiday season! Though we leave Sunday, we are starting our holiday celebrations tomorrow as a family, so I am signing off until the new year. Family comes first, and this is the season to celebrate everyone we love!