Ingredients
1 lb. beef, stew meat, cubed
1 mix, Lipton’s onion soup
6 c. hot water
2 carrots, peeled and shredded
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
1 tomato, peeled and chopped
1 c. biscuit mix
1 Tbsp. parsley, finely chopped
6 Tbsp. milk
Directions
In slow cooker sprinkle dry onion soup mix over stewing beef.
Pour hot water over meat. Stirring in carrots, celery and tomato.
Cover. Cook on Low for 4-6 hours or until meat is tender.
Turn crock to High.
In a small bowl, combine biscuit mix with parsley.
Stir in milk with fork until mixture is moistened.
Drop dumpling mixture into crock pot with a teaspoon.
Cover and cook on High for an additional 30 minutes.
Because I can never make a recipe exactly how it’s meant to be made, I modified this one slightly too.
I did not include a tomato instead I added one peeled and diced sweet potato. I didn’t have parsley, so I used a teaspoon of dried Italian spices. I also added some salt and pepper. When the soup was done cooking, it was still a little too thin for my liking so I thickened it with some flour and water.
I was nervous about this one. It did not look pretty while cooking in the crockpot, but the end result was delicious. It was enjoyed by everyone but Chet (who has no appetite lately thanks to teething).
This one is getting saved for future dinners. It was easy to make and perfect to eat on a lazy Sunday.
The website has much more appetizing photos, but I swear it’s delicious.
If you want to avoid prepackaged ingredients, you can make your own onion soup mix. Click here for recipe.
“I should have noticed. I should have stopped and paused.” ~Brene Brown
This week I have been flooded with reminders to stop and pause. I’ve been deliberately taking the time to recognize the small smiles through out my day. It’s been almost a year since Christian and I lost his father and my aunt to cancer. We are in the middle of the holiday season, and I miss them both. Why didn’t I pick up the phone last Thanksgiving to talk to my aunt. Why don’t I remember the same details as Christian from the Thanksgiving dinner that we shared with his parents. Why was I so busy?
As I pulled out the boxes of Christmas ornaments last Friday, I found a bag. It is a small white shopping bag that has been shuffled from one room to another finally making its way to the closet that is the home to our holiday decorations. In the bag is a box. The box is wrapped in Christmas paper. Inside the box is an ornament. I purchased this ornament for my aunt a few months after she was diagnosed with Cancer for the second time. That Christmas she was moving back from England, and our entire family mailed her an angel ornament to let her know she was loved and supported. I bought the ornament, and it has sat in the same bag since 2010. Why was I too busy to mail it?
Yesterday I read a narrative of an afternoon run that ended on a beach. It was about slowing down and taking notice. The author’s attention was drawn to the birds in the sand and the simple behavior patterns he noticed when he allowed himself to be an observer. When he slowed down and paused, he saw all these small miracles around him. Both my father-in-law and my aunt loved birds. I could hear my aunt laughing at the narrative, and I could see the sideways smile on my father-in-law’s face. They both would have appreciated the story. As soon as I finished reading, I put on my running shoes. I headed out in the rain and in the cold. I ran without a garmin. I left my phone behind. It was just me and the sidewalk. Every raindrop was a reminder to take notice of the life around me. The run felt like magic.
Later that evening, my husband got home from work. For the first time since the summer after Chet was born, he also put on his running shoes. He headed out into the same cold and rain I ran in earlier, but now it was dark too. I’m thrilled for him that he wants to run. I’m excited about the possibilities it opens up for us a couple, but that isn’t really what matters most. What I saw when I stopped and paused and took notice of the shoes he put on his feet was his love for me. It was as if he was saying I want to share life with you. If this is what you love, let’s do it together.
He loves me
Thanksgiving has passed. Christmas will be over before I know it. As I’m busy buy gifts, decorating my house, and celebrating with family, I don’t want to miss the important things.
You have to stop and pause when life gets crazy because you will miss it. You’ll have family dinners you barely remember. You’ll have Christmas ornaments that never hung on the right tree. You’ll miss all the messages of love that are hiding behind the wrapping paper and the sparkly tree. What’s the purpose of it all if you don’t stop to notice all the moments that say I love you. Let’s celebrate this life together.
This was one of those races where I had no clue how things would work out. The weather forecast wasn’t looking pretty for this race. In the runs leading up to the race day, my knee had been aching. My original plan was to race the race with the same effort I put into the Turkey Trot 10k two weeks ago. How far could I hold a mid 8 minute/mile pace? When I woke up Saturday morning and saw the sideways rain out my window, I decided to toss my race plan out the window too. My new goal was to finish (with a determination to finish healthy. If my knee hurt for the first 3 miles, I’d turn off and finish with the 5k runners).
The race course was a tough course for cold temps and 20 mph winds from the North. There were two stretches of running north along the ocean with no protection from the wind.
I started the race with my friend Laura. We cruised through the first five miles as planned. I should have studied the map a little closer because I wasn’t prepared to hit the boardwalk during the second mile. I thought we were safe from the wind until mile 5. I was wrong, but this stretch of boardwalk only lasted a half mile before we were back behind the hotels for protection. When we passed the turn off for the 5k finish, my knee was feeling good so I kept going. Just after the turn off, we meet up with another J&A ambassador runner Jess. The three of us ran to the boardwalk together.
8:37
8:41
8:25
8:39
8:33
When we hit the boardwalk for the almost 3 mile battle against the wind, I knew I was fading. I held on to Laura and Jess as long as I could before I told them to keep going. I told them both to go kick ass, and I’d see them at the finish. I was out of gas (and kicking myself for forgetting to do any of my preface fueling routine. Yes, I completely forgot to put anything in my body prerace). I inhaled my Gu, ducked my head, and made forward movement my goal.
9:10
9:41
The last mile on the boardwalk really got me. I thought we were turning off at 32nd street, but the race kept moving north along the ocean. I had another half mile to go of fighting the wind. I was getting passed by runner after runner, and I wasn’t passing anyone. They were passing me in waves, and I just couldn’t hang on to anyone. Instead of turning inward, I decided to pull energy from people by cheering them on. I checked on the girl who stopped to stretch. I blocked wind for the Team Hoyt runner who I’d been running with for most of the boardwalk. I cheered on the runners who passed me. It worked. The boardwalk ended, and I had a new determination to make up lost time.
9:59
I knew I wasn’t going to break 1:30 on the race clock, but I could still PR in crappy race conditions. I had just over two miles to go once I got off the boardwalk. I needed to run.
9:02
8:35
I crossed the finish line knowing I ran the race the best I could.
1:30:30 official finish time (9:03 pace)
Garmin finish: 10.13 in 1:30:30 (8:56 pace)
Bob (The Elf) and Me
I’m not going to lie. I was pissed at those 30 seconds when I finished. Could I have fought harder against the wind? I should have fueled my body! Could I have recovered better from my marathon? Should I have run more since my marathon? But today I’m happy with my results. My abs and back are more sore than they have ever been after a race from fighting the wind. My knee started burning at mile 9, and a trip to the medical tent for ice was a must post race. It’s still sore, so I’ll be icing and using ibuprofen for a few days.I fought to hang on, and somedays, that is good enough.
I ended my 2013 race season with one more PR and a determination to get faster. This race confirmed what I already know. It’s time to add some strength training to my routine. Core work has to be a priority. I’m using the rest of December to pamper my knee, actively rest (which means garmin free running for me), and starting to prepare for Shamrock training which will get real in January.
It’s been a great year for running. I’ll have run over 1000 miles by the time 2014 gets here. I’ve PR’ed in every distance I’ve raced this fall. I’m getting stronger at the shorter distances and loving the marathon. I’m still not convinced I like middle distance races (10 milers and half marathons).
2014 holds a lot of promise. For now I have my eye on a Shamrock Marathon and a fall marathon and plan to break 4 hours.
It’s been far too long since Soup-er Sunday has been part of our weekend routine. I have no real excuse for letting this habit fall away except a new baby and marathon training. Now that the new baby is almost 2, its time for a comeback. Chet loves to help me cook, and soups are the easiest recipes to make with a toddler helper.
I wanted a creamy soup. I wanted vegetables. I wanted to use my crock pot. This recipe put a check next to all three requests. I modified the recipe slightly to add some protein to the soup.
Crockpot Creamy Vegetable Soup
Ingredients
3 cups chicken broth
1 cup red onion, chopped
1/4 teaspoon thyme, dried
1 cup green beans (fresh or frozen)
3/4 cup carrot, sliced
1/2 cup celery, sliced
1 cup broccoli (fresh or frozen)
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
2 cups milk
Directions
Place vegetables, thyme, and chicken broth in a slow cooker and cook for 4-5 hours on high.
About 20 minutes before serving, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour, stirring continuously to form a light roux, then slowly begin to add the milk, small amounts at a time. Stir continusouly until clumps are gone and the sauce has begun to thicken. Take off the heat.
Slowly pour the milk mixture into the vegetables mixture in the crock pot, and continue to cook until heated through. NOTES: Feel free to substitute any vegetables here that you want to. If you like a creamed soup, you can either use your immersion blender right in the crockpot to puree the soup, or, transfer to food processor or blender in small batches until the desired consistency is reached. Serve with crusty bread and herbed butter.
****I added a can of white kidney beans and a can of northern white beans for protein. I also added 4 cups of chicken broth instead of 3 because of the added beans.
****I’m also serving the soup with corn bread since it’s a favorite in our house.
The soup was delicious. As it cooked in the slow cooker it filled my house with smells from my childhood. It smelled exactly like a favorite little restaurant I used to go to in Wisconsin with my mom and grandma where I always ate vegetable soup. The recipe didn’t disappointed as it reminded me of a cream based version of my childhood memory. This recipe is saved for future dinners.
Both boys approved of the soup too, even my picky eater Chet.
We all have them: crappy days that come when they are least expected. I woke up this morning ready to get back into my normal life routine. I have been off from work since last Wednesday. A hiccup up or two occurred in my normal plan, and I found myself in a puddle of tears. I just want to be a stay at home mom.
The overwhelming sense of longing to be home happens in waves. It’s not out of the ordinary since Chet was born. The cycle that follows is always the same too. I cry. I hug and kiss my kids enough times that they start to think something is wrong with me. I question my career choice. Would working be easier if I liked my job? The back and forth debate begins in my head. Is the flexibility that my unfulfilling job provides worth the sacrifice of not having a career I care about?
My logical self knows that if I did have a career I was passionate about, the back and forth debate that goes on in my head would still exist. Is having a career I love worth missing out on all the extras I get to enjoy from having a flexible job?
I cried on my way to my mom’s house like I always do. I cried on the way to work like I always do. I sat at my desk like I always do wishing to be home.
***********
My third week into my course with Brené Brown on wholehearted living stumped me. We were being asked to identify stressors in our lives. What triggers our stress? When we begin to feel these stressors, how do we numb ourselves? Do I drink too much? Do I hide behind my computer?
I don’t numb. If anything, I feel things too deeply. I dive right into my feelings. I splash around in them. I make sure everyone around me gets wet from my feelings too. I do not numb.
I stared at my blank journal page. I watched and rewatched the class videos. I discussed it with a friend. Then it hit me.
I may not use things to numb myself, but I do detach myself from the things I love to avoid feeling good. I sit in my sorrow. I avoid all things that could possibly make me feel better. I quit engaging with the world.
Journal Work – The bubble I create and the world I avoid
***********
While I sat at my desk feeling overwhelmingly sad this morning, I knew I had a choice. I could sit here and feel my sadness. I could sit in it. I could stare at our family budget to confirm that my income is needed. I could balance our check book to reconfirm that my income is needed. I could google for jobs that would inspire me. I could stare at pictures of both my boys and long to be home. This is what I do. I detach, and I am really good at feeling the sadness.
***********
My Tuesday night yin yoga class began with a reading:
The Guest House
by Jelauddin Rumi
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
Meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
These words have followed me since I sat in that yoga class. I’ve welcomed my feelings. I felt each and every single one of them. I didn’t shy away from sadness. I embraced comfort. I opened my arms to happiness. I didn’t overthink the feelings. I allowed them to arrive.
***********
When sadness showed up this morning, I reminded myself to welcome the feelings. I cried the tears I was holding onto inside of me.
But then I held on to them.
I have to learn that once I welcome these feelings, I also have to let them go. They are a guest in my house. They are meant to pass through. The feelings aren’t meant to linger.
Instead of sitting at my computer and reworking budgets and balancing checks and job searching, I forced myself out of my detached bubble. I reengaged with my real world. I told my friends I was in a funk. I welcomed chatter with coworkers. I forced myself to spend my break at work on week five of my Brené Brown course.
***********
These are the words I found when I started the week 5 video:
“When you have a crap day, and you are thinking I have to be grateful for today, I don’t feel grateful today. Here is a huge distinction that I want to make: there is a difference between feeling grateful and practicing gratitude. It’s during our darkest times when we don’t feel gratitude that practicing it makes a difference.” ~Brené Brown
***********
I woke up today feeling very sad. I felt overwhelmed. I felt cheated. I had a moment where I didn’t feel grateful for life because I just want to stay home with my boys. I’m welcoming the sadness. It is okay to feel sad, but I also choosing gratitude. I had five amazing days home with my kids. It was filled with walks, runs, brownie making, movie watching, Christmas decorating, outdoor play, and lots of other joys.
“Joy is additive. When we practice gratitude, we fill our joy reserve” ~ Brené Brown
The sadness will come, and it will always be welcomed, but I also have to let it go. Holding on to it casts shadows on all the joy that life holds.
Kristy Maute 