Here is the deal with my potato salad, it is never the same way twice, but it is always yummy. I don't think I have ever had a recipe for it, just watched my mom, and knew what I liked. So what I have listed below is something you can tweak, like adding more mustard, less onion, what ever. This is for four to five servings. Takes about 60 minutes to make, and a few hours to chill.
3 good sized russet potatoes, washed, peeled, raw
1 small to med sized onion, white, yellow, red, or a punch of green onions.
3 hard boiled eggs, peeled
1 celery stalk
1-3 pickles depending on size, or 1-3 scoops of dill pickle relish
1-3 cups of salad dressing of choice, like mayo, miracle whip, best foods, what ever you like
1-2 large tablespoons of mustard
1/4 cup of either vinegar or pickle juice
salt and pepper to taste
seasonings to taste, 1-3 teaspoons such as dill, paprika, parsley, celery seed, all, one or two, none
1-2 teaspoon of sugar, but not required
Dice the peeled potatoes into bit sized cubes, add to salted water and cook in boiling water until they are fork tender, if they are too soft they won't hold up, and you will have mashed potato salad. Yuck.
Once cooked, drain potatoes and while still hot drizzle the vinegar or pickle juice on top, the potatoes will soak up the juice and be more flavorful. If you are using dried spices you can add some of them now as well, to help infuse the potatoes with flavor.
Dice the onion into small pieces, and add to potatoes.
Dice the eggs into small pieces, add to potatoes
Dice celery and pickles/ or relish and add them as well. Again as much as preferred.
Top mixture with dressing and mustard, stir in coating the potatoes, start with a cup or so of dressing, and add to mixture to get preferred texture, if you want creamy salad add more dressing.
Taste the salad, add salt and pepper as needed, and other spices as needed, if it taste a little flat, the sugar might be just the touch you need, really I know, unexpected, but sometimes sugar can be the missing touch to a lot of meals. Or a splash of lemon juice. Cover and chill in the fridge until ready to eat. When stored for some time in the fridge, it may get a little dry, just add more dressing.
This is my basic recipe, but you can change it up, add jalapenos, or bacon, top with cheese, use greek yogurt instead of mayo. Use lime juice, instead of pickle juice, toss in avocado instead of eggs. Add olives, or capers. That is the best part of potato salad, it can let you get really creative.
Enjoy!!
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
What I have noticed with my little boys.
So when my oldest was young, it seemed rather easy to have children, he wasn't too bossy, or loud, or much of a stinker, so I figured, heck I am really good at this parenting thing. Well sister I was wrong, way wrong, I wasn't a good parent, I just was lucky to have a good kid and only one of them.
I now have two more of them and sister it isn't easy. It didn't double my work load, it quadrupled it. The fighting, the yelling, and disagreements, and that is just with my hubs and I.
I am a stay at home mom, and I am on duty 24 hours a day, I actually think they cram more hours into our days as a stay at home parent than others, just because the days can be sooooo long, and sooo draining. When you look forward to Arthur on PBS instead of Peg plus cat, you know what I mean. "I have a really big problem."
(Really it isn't a really big problem, that is just from the show, Peg + cat, it is said over and over.)
But somethings I have learned are that my boys can go from one emotion to another faster than a woman PMSing, and as a PMSing woman I can say that. They can hate you, then boom, love you. They want to be left alone, and then, cuddled all day. I find it is a lot easier to deal with them when you let them take the time to figure these emotions out and get them to use their words, to realize what is making them feel this way, I don't mean an hour of psychoanalysis, but just letting them know, this is what angry feels like, when you take someones toy, it hurts them. That way, it is easier to distract them, and help them move past the fits and tantrums. Because it gives them more control and power over their surroundings. But it also means I get a lot of, "I am so mad at you mom" moments. But I also get a lot of hugs and kisses, just a few minutes later.
One other thing I have learned is kids watch for every reaction, to everything, I mean EVERYTHING. How you laugh at bad words, how you give in after the tenth time, of asking for ice cream cones. How you shriek, when their cold toes touch your warm legs. And if they get a pay back or a reward by that reaction, whether good or bad, they will do it over and over again. If they find it funny to yell boo right in your face, and you tell them you hate it, guess what, you get "surprised" all day long. You laugh too loud at a joke, you hear it thirty times an afternoon.
I am not saying don't react, I am just saying be prepared and ready for what you respond to, good or bad, because it will be repeated over and over and over and over.
Speaking of repeated over and over, once your child is old enough, he will spill the beans and tell all your secrets to every and anybody, that is one of the real reasons you don't fight in front of your kids. Unless you love the cashier at the grocery store knowing you called daddy an asshole. Just an example, really never happened to us, really I promise. Or your spouse knowing just how often you run out to get fast food. Or your Mother to know what you thought of her Christmas presents.
Lastly, boys love body parts and what they do, they love farts, snot and poop, they will pee anywhere and everywhere. They will also make a weapon out of anything. They will take their shirts off to wrestle each other, and they will talk about killing the bad guys and villains. Just the other day my four year old ask if there are new eye's doctors use to replace the eyes that villains rip out of other people. I was thrown off by it, but I didn't react, just answered, nope, no new eyes, once they are gone, they are gone. I don't know where this came from, (maybe some whacked out cartoon on a channel that maybe they shouldn't be watching), but I didn't want to dwell on it too long, or else I would be hearing about eye transplants for the next two weeks.
I know there is a lot I don't know, and much more I do know, like Narbles are marbles, sandwiches can never have crust and must always be square, that no matter how long pretend you are asleep at night, thinking your spouse will get up with the kids when they are crying, it won't be long enough. Also that the days blend into each other, you lose track of the days of the week, the last time you had real date, or a shower even.
But I will keep getting up each morning trying again to retain my brain cells, keep my shirt snot free, and to be ready for hugs, followed by tackles at a moments notice. Because I am a parent and my kids need me to be there, as a constant reassurance that they are loved and wanted.
I now have two more of them and sister it isn't easy. It didn't double my work load, it quadrupled it. The fighting, the yelling, and disagreements, and that is just with my hubs and I.
I am a stay at home mom, and I am on duty 24 hours a day, I actually think they cram more hours into our days as a stay at home parent than others, just because the days can be sooooo long, and sooo draining. When you look forward to Arthur on PBS instead of Peg plus cat, you know what I mean. "I have a really big problem."
(Really it isn't a really big problem, that is just from the show, Peg + cat, it is said over and over.)
But somethings I have learned are that my boys can go from one emotion to another faster than a woman PMSing, and as a PMSing woman I can say that. They can hate you, then boom, love you. They want to be left alone, and then, cuddled all day. I find it is a lot easier to deal with them when you let them take the time to figure these emotions out and get them to use their words, to realize what is making them feel this way, I don't mean an hour of psychoanalysis, but just letting them know, this is what angry feels like, when you take someones toy, it hurts them. That way, it is easier to distract them, and help them move past the fits and tantrums. Because it gives them more control and power over their surroundings. But it also means I get a lot of, "I am so mad at you mom" moments. But I also get a lot of hugs and kisses, just a few minutes later.
One other thing I have learned is kids watch for every reaction, to everything, I mean EVERYTHING. How you laugh at bad words, how you give in after the tenth time, of asking for ice cream cones. How you shriek, when their cold toes touch your warm legs. And if they get a pay back or a reward by that reaction, whether good or bad, they will do it over and over again. If they find it funny to yell boo right in your face, and you tell them you hate it, guess what, you get "surprised" all day long. You laugh too loud at a joke, you hear it thirty times an afternoon.
I am not saying don't react, I am just saying be prepared and ready for what you respond to, good or bad, because it will be repeated over and over and over and over.
Speaking of repeated over and over, once your child is old enough, he will spill the beans and tell all your secrets to every and anybody, that is one of the real reasons you don't fight in front of your kids. Unless you love the cashier at the grocery store knowing you called daddy an asshole. Just an example, really never happened to us, really I promise. Or your spouse knowing just how often you run out to get fast food. Or your Mother to know what you thought of her Christmas presents.
Lastly, boys love body parts and what they do, they love farts, snot and poop, they will pee anywhere and everywhere. They will also make a weapon out of anything. They will take their shirts off to wrestle each other, and they will talk about killing the bad guys and villains. Just the other day my four year old ask if there are new eye's doctors use to replace the eyes that villains rip out of other people. I was thrown off by it, but I didn't react, just answered, nope, no new eyes, once they are gone, they are gone. I don't know where this came from, (maybe some whacked out cartoon on a channel that maybe they shouldn't be watching), but I didn't want to dwell on it too long, or else I would be hearing about eye transplants for the next two weeks.
I know there is a lot I don't know, and much more I do know, like Narbles are marbles, sandwiches can never have crust and must always be square, that no matter how long pretend you are asleep at night, thinking your spouse will get up with the kids when they are crying, it won't be long enough. Also that the days blend into each other, you lose track of the days of the week, the last time you had real date, or a shower even.
But I will keep getting up each morning trying again to retain my brain cells, keep my shirt snot free, and to be ready for hugs, followed by tackles at a moments notice. Because I am a parent and my kids need me to be there, as a constant reassurance that they are loved and wanted.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Birthday Cake, Damn it, don't use those words unless you mean it.
So I was all excited to make a birthday cake for a dinner I was invited to, I was thinking Lemon cake, with raspberry filling, and whipped cream cheese frosting, using real cream of course, with maybe either toasted nuts or coconut on top, because silly me, I gave up chocolate for Lent, even though I am not Catholic, or Lutheran, or Orthodox, insert any other religion that I might have missed that observes Lent, sorry no offense meant, just lead a sheltered life growing up.
Lent is a really long time to do with out something, but it is a good lesson, and true chance for reflection. Like why chocolate, what was I thinking, are you kidding, you completely forgot about Shamrock shakes that are all abound right now, that are really really yummy with a touch of chocolate added, but there is the extra side effect of Lent, all the fish sandwiches popping up everywhere. Even the local grocery store has their version, but I am not running out to taste theirs, but I have had a few others, and so far Arby's is the winner. I know Arby's, who knew.
Any way, enough about Lent, back to birthday cake. Turns out it wasn't birthday cake after all they wanted, in fact they wanted cobbler. Cobbler!! (booo, hisssss, booo)
Now don't get me wrong, cobbler is great, but not for the second function in a row, and definitely not when birthday cake is advertized. Cake and cobbler are not the same animal, not even close, one is fake healthy with its fruit and everything, the other is completely bad, really bad, with fat, and sugar and yummy goodness, the cake and the frosting, yummmm......., cobbler is the same all the way through, warm fruit, with soft crumbly stuff. Not the same. Not even with ice cream.
Don't tell a room full of ladies cake will be there, when it will not only not show up, but when you have a completely unsuitable replacement. That would be like advertizing Ryan Reynolds, and instead having Steve Buscemi head line instead, sure both can act, but only one you want to invite over for birthday cake.
But really all of this is pointless, I am not even going, sick babies, I made the cobbler, some one came and picked it up, and I am sure it will be eaten, by polite little old ladies, with polite little smiles on their faces, all while they are plotting someones long painful death, because they too know, cobbler is not birthday cake.
Did you notice that run on sentence? Nope probably not, they sneak up on you, Jane Austin was very good at those run on sentence, some taking up half page, but she was such a good word smith, most go completely unnoticed.
I think I need to run out and get myself a fish sandwich and a side of cake, or maybe rent The Proposal again.
Lent is a really long time to do with out something, but it is a good lesson, and true chance for reflection. Like why chocolate, what was I thinking, are you kidding, you completely forgot about Shamrock shakes that are all abound right now, that are really really yummy with a touch of chocolate added, but there is the extra side effect of Lent, all the fish sandwiches popping up everywhere. Even the local grocery store has their version, but I am not running out to taste theirs, but I have had a few others, and so far Arby's is the winner. I know Arby's, who knew.
Any way, enough about Lent, back to birthday cake. Turns out it wasn't birthday cake after all they wanted, in fact they wanted cobbler. Cobbler!! (booo, hisssss, booo)
Now don't get me wrong, cobbler is great, but not for the second function in a row, and definitely not when birthday cake is advertized. Cake and cobbler are not the same animal, not even close, one is fake healthy with its fruit and everything, the other is completely bad, really bad, with fat, and sugar and yummy goodness, the cake and the frosting, yummmm......., cobbler is the same all the way through, warm fruit, with soft crumbly stuff. Not the same. Not even with ice cream.
Don't tell a room full of ladies cake will be there, when it will not only not show up, but when you have a completely unsuitable replacement. That would be like advertizing Ryan Reynolds, and instead having Steve Buscemi head line instead, sure both can act, but only one you want to invite over for birthday cake.
But really all of this is pointless, I am not even going, sick babies, I made the cobbler, some one came and picked it up, and I am sure it will be eaten, by polite little old ladies, with polite little smiles on their faces, all while they are plotting someones long painful death, because they too know, cobbler is not birthday cake.
Did you notice that run on sentence? Nope probably not, they sneak up on you, Jane Austin was very good at those run on sentence, some taking up half page, but she was such a good word smith, most go completely unnoticed.
I think I need to run out and get myself a fish sandwich and a side of cake, or maybe rent The Proposal again.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Long time again, but it is because I loathe myself, nothing serious.
So I am fat again, not as fat as I have been, just far from my half way goal, about 18 pounds away, which yes, sucks, sucks big time, I hate it, and I haven't really done much about it, except feel like an idiot and stuff my face more. So there you go. I make it worse.
But really that is a lie, I am working out more, lots more, we got a family pass to a city rec center that has a pool, track, cardio room, and plenty of weights, but the best part, they have free babysitting, which I love. I was worried that hubs wouldn't let me use it for the boys, but he soon realized that working up a sweat made me an easier person to be around, aka, less of a bitch. So he grins and bares it. I go and get really sweaty and gross, but I love it. The boys have been sick the last few days, probably from the above mentioned free daycare, then I also became sick for a day or two, so it has been a while since I have been able to work out, but the long hours in bed, zonked out, while Hubs watched the boys wasn't bad. (actually quite nice, thanks babe)
There is a lot I want to talk about, but I know long post get boring, so I will cut this short, I just wanted to say I am alive and not buried in the back yard.
Enjoy your day, go get sweaty and put down that doughnut, seriously, put it down.
Just kidding, enjoy!!
But really that is a lie, I am working out more, lots more, we got a family pass to a city rec center that has a pool, track, cardio room, and plenty of weights, but the best part, they have free babysitting, which I love. I was worried that hubs wouldn't let me use it for the boys, but he soon realized that working up a sweat made me an easier person to be around, aka, less of a bitch. So he grins and bares it. I go and get really sweaty and gross, but I love it. The boys have been sick the last few days, probably from the above mentioned free daycare, then I also became sick for a day or two, so it has been a while since I have been able to work out, but the long hours in bed, zonked out, while Hubs watched the boys wasn't bad. (actually quite nice, thanks babe)
There is a lot I want to talk about, but I know long post get boring, so I will cut this short, I just wanted to say I am alive and not buried in the back yard.
Enjoy your day, go get sweaty and put down that doughnut, seriously, put it down.
Just kidding, enjoy!!
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Venting...(warning, graphic poop talk)
So I am bugged by something I saw on my facebook feed, a post that my teenage son commented on. I wish I hadn't seen it, because it leaves me bugged and pissed off, and without a clue on how to handle it. One of his so called friends, suggested they should poop in my son's mouth. It is gross to say the least. But my son is an adult now, which is weird for me to say, and even weirder for me to accept. I have no idea if this other child is an adult or not, because whether he is 18 or not, he is still a immature child.
So how would you handle this? Part of me wants to go find the punk and punch him, but the rational side says that would be way out of line and uncalled for and totally not worth it in the end. Part wants to post a remark, full of snark and embarrassment, but that can lead to more back and forth than I want. Another part says relax momma bear, your son can handle this on his own. In reality, that is what will happen, I may mention it to my son, but I may not. All depends on the moment.
I guess I just need to realize I can't control the world, nor what idiots will say. But I can control how I react to it, that is why I am on my blog venting, because my son won't see it, and no one else he knows will see it, unless he has friends in Ireland or Thailand that I don't know about.
Why does trash like this have to come along and throw a wrench into my day when all I can do about it is wish I hadn't seen it, and pray it is just a really dumb thought by someone that has so much more in life to figure out.
Sorry to bring poop up into your fine day. I hope your day is much more enjoyable.
I am still running, still working out, still trying hard, but I am still not to 217 either, so keep me in your thoughts, maybe a few positive thoughts sent my way will really help. Either that or send some fat erasing fairies my way, that would be awesome. Keep up the hard work.
So how would you handle this? Part of me wants to go find the punk and punch him, but the rational side says that would be way out of line and uncalled for and totally not worth it in the end. Part wants to post a remark, full of snark and embarrassment, but that can lead to more back and forth than I want. Another part says relax momma bear, your son can handle this on his own. In reality, that is what will happen, I may mention it to my son, but I may not. All depends on the moment.
I guess I just need to realize I can't control the world, nor what idiots will say. But I can control how I react to it, that is why I am on my blog venting, because my son won't see it, and no one else he knows will see it, unless he has friends in Ireland or Thailand that I don't know about.
Why does trash like this have to come along and throw a wrench into my day when all I can do about it is wish I hadn't seen it, and pray it is just a really dumb thought by someone that has so much more in life to figure out.
Sorry to bring poop up into your fine day. I hope your day is much more enjoyable.
I am still running, still working out, still trying hard, but I am still not to 217 either, so keep me in your thoughts, maybe a few positive thoughts sent my way will really help. Either that or send some fat erasing fairies my way, that would be awesome. Keep up the hard work.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
I really am doing myself in, really.
I have had some really bad events happen in my life recently, which as increased my stress levels, which decreases my will power and invites in all sorts of negative thoughts, "give in", "eat it, you will love feeling stuffed", "no one can do this, give up", "you stink and have bad breath", "even if you lost weight, your hubs won't want you", "make yummy food, full of fat, you will love it", "cheese is your friend".
No cheese isn't my friend, neither is bacon, nor chocolate. But they aren't the enemy either, what is the enemy is my own brain. My own self is stopping me, you can't move forward in life if you constantly fill your brain with negativity. But how do you stop all that negativity? How do you tell your self to shut the fuck up?
Sorry for the language, it is just where my head is.
I gained way too much weight this last weekend, and I am kicking myself, because these are pounds I have to lose all over again, which sucks, I could be under 200, I bet if I wasn't gaining and losing the same 5 pounds. Which makes me even more upset and stressed, which causes me to reach for the extra slice of pie. "Piiiiiiieeeeee....."
I wish I had a cheerleader, someone who could make me feel worth it. I guess in a way I do, but I don't always rely on them, I am not an overtly religious person, I mean I am, but I don't like preaching it, and showing it off. But maybe I should try to rely on the lord more. And not be ashamed of it. Not hide it. If my talking about my love for the lord turns people off so be it. There is plenty that others do that turn me off, i.e. twerking, not even sure if that is spelled right, but please girls knock that crap off, no one wants to have a butt waving in their face, except creepy gross men, which you really don't want in your life, unless you have daddy issues, and if that is the case, get some help and put the ass down.
I guess I need to knuckle down and start saying I am worth it, whether I believe it or not at this point, because a point will come where I do believe it. If I can believe all the negative things, then surly I can believe the positive as well. Wish me luck, or in other words pray for me, or just go twerk, you messed up little girl.
No cheese isn't my friend, neither is bacon, nor chocolate. But they aren't the enemy either, what is the enemy is my own brain. My own self is stopping me, you can't move forward in life if you constantly fill your brain with negativity. But how do you stop all that negativity? How do you tell your self to shut the fuck up?
Sorry for the language, it is just where my head is.
I gained way too much weight this last weekend, and I am kicking myself, because these are pounds I have to lose all over again, which sucks, I could be under 200, I bet if I wasn't gaining and losing the same 5 pounds. Which makes me even more upset and stressed, which causes me to reach for the extra slice of pie. "Piiiiiiieeeeee....."
I wish I had a cheerleader, someone who could make me feel worth it. I guess in a way I do, but I don't always rely on them, I am not an overtly religious person, I mean I am, but I don't like preaching it, and showing it off. But maybe I should try to rely on the lord more. And not be ashamed of it. Not hide it. If my talking about my love for the lord turns people off so be it. There is plenty that others do that turn me off, i.e. twerking, not even sure if that is spelled right, but please girls knock that crap off, no one wants to have a butt waving in their face, except creepy gross men, which you really don't want in your life, unless you have daddy issues, and if that is the case, get some help and put the ass down.
I guess I need to knuckle down and start saying I am worth it, whether I believe it or not at this point, because a point will come where I do believe it. If I can believe all the negative things, then surly I can believe the positive as well. Wish me luck, or in other words pray for me, or just go twerk, you messed up little girl.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Up late last night.
I couldn't sleep last night, I thought about blogging something on my phone, but two thumbs go way too slow, for my brain, and my brain late at night isn't all that fast, so that should clue you in to how slow I can text.
I am really struggling with these last five pounds, I get close to 220, then I bounce back up to 222, it really stinks, I can't seem to get past this hump, during my reunion I let it all loose, didn't work out enough and got up to 232, so I guess it is amazing I am back down to 222, but still, if I had stayed good maybe I would be under that. Why is my body and mind doing this to me?
Why am I fighting this so hard, like today is friday, the store where I shop has the best fried fish on fridays, I really shouldn't eat it, but right now my mouth is drooling just thinking about it. I just want to buy a pound and eat it all, with tartar sauce dripping down my chin.
Why do I think like this, why aren't I geared towards hitting my goal, denying myself to reach it? Why am I fighting it, why do I go off the deep end on weekends? Why can't I find the will power to stay healthy. all week long, thursday night rolls around and I am making bread pudding with butter and syrup?
I know I have been like this with other weights in the past, 240 was awful, I mean awful, it was over christmas time, what a mess. So I know I can get past this one as well, I just wish it wasn't such a struggle.
I also went back and read some of my past post, I gotta say, I am pretty funny, I forgot some of what I wrote, but then again it was over two years ago. I think I have come much further, I have gained more insight, and I know I have so much further to go. But at least I going, I am trying to move forward, even if it is only as fast as honey on a cold winter day. It is still something, maybe one of these days my stove will get turned on and my honey will just flow, and run like the dickens.(I did have the word ooze in there, but that sounds pretty gross, not a thought I want before I go shopping, things oozing, good things don't ooze, wounds ooze, poop oozes, not yummy stuff like honey, or whip cream)
So stay with me, all you regulars, from far off places like France and Ireland, Russia and Thailand, unless you just read me to make fun of fat lazy Americans, if that is the case, then screw you buddy, and go watch Jersey Shore and feel superior over those drunks, and leave this stay at home mom alone. Everyone else, enjoy the ride and have a nice day.
Watch out fried fish here I come.
I am really struggling with these last five pounds, I get close to 220, then I bounce back up to 222, it really stinks, I can't seem to get past this hump, during my reunion I let it all loose, didn't work out enough and got up to 232, so I guess it is amazing I am back down to 222, but still, if I had stayed good maybe I would be under that. Why is my body and mind doing this to me?
Why am I fighting this so hard, like today is friday, the store where I shop has the best fried fish on fridays, I really shouldn't eat it, but right now my mouth is drooling just thinking about it. I just want to buy a pound and eat it all, with tartar sauce dripping down my chin.
Why do I think like this, why aren't I geared towards hitting my goal, denying myself to reach it? Why am I fighting it, why do I go off the deep end on weekends? Why can't I find the will power to stay healthy. all week long, thursday night rolls around and I am making bread pudding with butter and syrup?
I know I have been like this with other weights in the past, 240 was awful, I mean awful, it was over christmas time, what a mess. So I know I can get past this one as well, I just wish it wasn't such a struggle.
I also went back and read some of my past post, I gotta say, I am pretty funny, I forgot some of what I wrote, but then again it was over two years ago. I think I have come much further, I have gained more insight, and I know I have so much further to go. But at least I going, I am trying to move forward, even if it is only as fast as honey on a cold winter day. It is still something, maybe one of these days my stove will get turned on and my honey will just flow, and run like the dickens.(I did have the word ooze in there, but that sounds pretty gross, not a thought I want before I go shopping, things oozing, good things don't ooze, wounds ooze, poop oozes, not yummy stuff like honey, or whip cream)
So stay with me, all you regulars, from far off places like France and Ireland, Russia and Thailand, unless you just read me to make fun of fat lazy Americans, if that is the case, then screw you buddy, and go watch Jersey Shore and feel superior over those drunks, and leave this stay at home mom alone. Everyone else, enjoy the ride and have a nice day.
Watch out fried fish here I come.
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