How To Feel Better

 1. Put things in perspective.

 2. Play out the worst case scenario.

 3. Count your blessings.

 4. Read the Bible.

 5. Do something new.

 6. Look for someone to praise.

 7. Get some exercise.

 8. Schedule joy.

 9. Act happy!

Borrowed this from my friend Ashley! Happy Monday

Sunday Dinner

BBQ chicken thigh, green beans & stovetop potatoes au gratin

I made a cheese sauce for boiled potatoes today because I was in a hurry. I used 2 tbsp butter and 2 tbsp flour to make a roux, then 3/4 c milk and 1 c cheese. You make the roux, add the milk, thicken, and melt in the cheese all over medium heat. I then coated the boiled potatoes with the cheese sauce and let it sit, covered, for about 20 minutes before lunch so the sauce could thicken and set. 

Traditional Potatoes Au Gratin

4 Russet potatoes, thinly sliced

5 tbsp butter

5 tbsp flour

2 C milk

2 C shredded cheese

salt & pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 2 quart casserole dish. Layer 1/2 the potatoes in the casserole dish. Sprinkle salt & pepper, then repeat with 2nd layer. In a saucepan melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and 1/2 tsp salt. Continue whisking for 1 minute. Whisk in the milk, slowly. Continue until the mixture has thickened. Whisk in the cheese until melted; about 1-2 minutes. 

Pour the sauce over the potatoes and bake about 1-1/2 hours.

ALDI'S FOOD MARKET!!!!!!!!

Now is your chance to laugh at me. I have never been to an Aldi's. They put one in our neighborhood recently, but I didn't go for the longest time. I'm more of a Fresh Market/Whole Foods/Publix person. But recently we have been more focused than ever on living the Dave Ramsey way, and putting away as much money as possible for rainy day? new house? whatever. And grocery prices have just been irritating me. That's when Rich & I happened to drive past Aldi's, and he said he wanted to go there. Apparently that's where he went as a kid, and he said he could show me the ropes. So off we went to Aldi's.  At first I couldn't find a shopping cart. Rich told me he could get me one for a quarter. I was so confused...until he showed me the cart system where they are all chained together. You get a cart by putting in a quarter, and when you give the cart back in the cart bay, you get your $.25 back. By the end of the first aisle, the prices were actually making me laugh. Everything was sooooo inexpensive! I bought a cart full of groceries for $64.81. And not junk, either. I got chicken, steak, hamburger, ground turkey, dairy, romaine lettuce, and all kinds of other stuff. Rich was happy too because I let him pick up some junk food (he would never eat a real meal if I didn't make him). I was actually pretty impressed with my spoils. If you go, remember your own bags or search for boxes in the store. (Which I did, like a wild woman...lol)

All this stuff, and a sack of potatoes (below)

The Last Supper...Tuna and Avocado Quesadillas

Today I had 1/2 of my face completely numbed with local anesthesia and nerve blocks. That was several hours ago and I still can't feel my lips or tongue. In fact I can't even drink water without dribbling and can't get it together enough to even suck on a straw. I knew I wouldn't be able to eat until tomorrow so I decided I would have one of my favs for lunch today :)

I made Omega 3 heaven. Tuna Avocado Quesadillas. They are sooo delish. Recipe & pix below. The pix didn't turn out well, I must have forgotten to use the flash! But oh well. They were sooo good!

In a small bowl mix the following:

2.6-oz pouch of chunk light tuna
2 tsp light mayo
salt & pepper
1/4-1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tbsp salsa

1/4 avocado, thinly sliced (should make 6-8 slices)
1/3 c shredded cheese of choice ( today I used sharp cheddar)
4 small tortillas

olive oil

Heat a frying pan on medium. Pour a small amount of oil, about 2 tsp, into the pan. When the pan is warm add a tortilla, swirling to coat the bottom side in oil for even crisping. Add 1/2 of the tuna, pressed thinly across the tortilla with a fork, then top with 1/2 of the cheese. Add 3-4 avocado slices. After about 30 seconds press the second tortilla on top and flip after about 30 seconds more. Cook until both sides are light golden and the cheese is melted. Makes 2 quesadillas

Cheesecake Pops

Rich & I will be spending Labor Day with our friends Donnie & Megan over in Naples. They are making all the sides and we are bringing the meat. I also decided to try making Paula Deen's Surprise Cheesecake Pops. To make the pops you must choose a center, a cheesecake flavor, and decide what you are going to roll the pops in. I decided to make 2 kinds today. I made a Reeses' pop that has a miniature Reeses' PB cup inside, marble cheesecake, and peanut butter chips on the outside. I also made a Strawberry-Key Lime pop that has a fresh strawberry in the center, a mixture of original and key lime cheesecake, and white chocolate chips on the outside. It was actually pretty easy. It took about 45 minutes to make 12 pops. I'm not sure that the stick is going to hold, but oh well. If I make it again I will probably try to buy a firmer cheesecake. It was difficult to get the cheesecake into a firm ball. I put them in the freezer. I will let them freeze overnight and hopefully they will make the trip to Naples (on ice, of course) without losing shape. Hopefully they will be tasty!

TEETH!!!!

This afternoon I went to the dentist for a cleaning. I was about 5 months overdue for my regular cleaning. Oh my goodness. My mouth is so sore after the deep cleaning & root planing that I had to have done today. Also ever since we got home I have had a raging headache! I do not like going to the dentist or doctor...so enough of this day already. Good night!

Ahi Tuna & Leftovers

Tonight for dinner I made Ahi Tuna steaks with leftovers. I needed to use up the fruit and nut couscous that I had left. Also I had half of an avocado. Tuna steaks are best prepared quite rare. The middle needs only to be just heated. This is about 5 minutes per side under the broiler on high. When it comes to tuna steaks it is best to purchase sashimi grade tuna so that you don't have to worry about the rare center. Basically all this means is that the particular grade of tuna is safe to be consumed completely raw. If you cook tuna too well done, it is dry and tough. Even with a light pink center, it can still be overcooked. So be careful! I made a mango-soy sauce marinade for the fish and it marinated about 3 hours. For sides I decided to re-do the couscous leftovers. I sauteed 1/2 of an onion and 3 cloves of garlic in some olive oil. I added in some extra turmeric, cumin, and coriander and covered the onions and garlic with vegetable broth. I added in the leftover couscous for a much moister experience. While I was working on the couscous the fish was cooking. The total cook time on the fish was 11 minutes. 4 minutes in I brushed the avocado with olive oil and dusted it with garlic salt & pepper and tossed it under the broiler too.

My dinner was delish! The couscous was definitely better with a higher onion & moisture to couscous ratio. The avocado was super tasty and the fish came out perfect.

The tuna and avocado under the broiler. 

My dinner plate!

Perfectly pink ahi tuna.

Tuna Marinade

1/4 cup fruit juice (orange, mango, etc. is fine)

1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 tsp sugar