fall · pumpkin · Recipes · Uncategorized

Time for Pumpkin

jachancellor2 Comments

Pumpkin muffins that is…

Okay – it is officially Fall.  I turned down the AC, and decided it was time to bake.  I found this recipe for pumpkin muffin tops at Liluna.com and decided to give a whirl.

We followed the instructions, or so we thought, and it was runny.  Really too wet, like we didn’t add enough flour.

Well we didn’t add enough flour (actually we were missing half of it!).

So we followed the recipe this time, (added the correct amount) and we used a brownie pan to hold everything together.

These were not bite sized but a good snack.  I really did enjoy the bite I had.  Took a bunch to work as it ended up making about 60 of them.  We sent a package to Carmen as well.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • ¾ cup vegetable oil
  • 1½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp allspice
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ginger
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • 1 – 15 oz can pumpkin puree
  • 2 eggs
  • 3½ cups flour
Streusel topping
  • ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • ⅓ cup all purpose flour, leveled off
  • ⅓ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • ⅓ cup pecans, finely chopped
  • 1-1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ⅛ tsp salt
  • 4 TB unsalted butter, melted

Directions

  1. In a large mixing bowl. beat together sugar, brown sugar and oil, until blended.
  2. In a separate bowl, mix baking soda, baking powder, salt, allspice, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Add to sugar/oil mixture and beat until blended. Add pumpkin puree and eggs. Beat until combined and mix in flour.
  3. Drop ¼ cup of batter, 2 inches apart, on baking sheets lined with parchment paper (or into greased muffin tops pan if you have one).
  4. Sprinkle streusel over tops.
  5. Bake at 375 degrees 12-15 minutes or until done.
Streusel topping
  1. In a medium bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, pecans, cinnamon, and salt. Drizzle melted butter over the top and stir to combine. Sprinkle over batter.

Blessings!

 

Bucket List · Date Night · Emeril · Uncategorized

Emeril’s Coastal Italian

jachancellorLeave a comment

I love Emeril.  Always have.  We loved dinning at Emeril’s Delmonico in Las Vegas.  He now has a restaurant in Miramar Beach – Emeril’s Coastal Italian.

David and I were out in Destin on Saturday, and decided to take a chance and have an early dinner/late lunch.


We had a wonderful time.  Robin and Lindsey were our servers, and they were helpful, and attentive.  David had the smoked fish dip and flatbread meatball pizza, and I had the coastal board with Bluefin Tuna Tartare, Jumbo lump crab salad, and Grouper cerviche.  I also had Emeril’s Chardonnay.

It was wonderful.  We ended with desserts; David had the Chocolate Hazelnut pudding, and I had the Olive Oil cake with salted caramel.

We will have to go only every once and a while, but this will be a go-to place for now on.  Amazing food, service, and prices were very reasonable.

Cheers.

 

 

Anxiety · blog · Blogging · Posts · Uncategorized

500 Posts

jachancellor3 Comments

“If you don’t scale the mountain, you can’t see the view.” – unknown

This is my 500th post.  As of this writing I have 90 followers (in January I had 7) -so wow!!  And I am over 300 followers on Twitter.  This is crazy.

I made a commitment to blog everyday this year, and so far, have been able to post something daily.  My anxiety gets me most of the time, but again, just plugging through daily.  Step by step…scaling my mountains.

Happy.  Thank you.

Blessings – today and always.

 

beach · beaches · blessings · fall · Random Thoughts · thoughts · Uncategorized

Sunday Thought

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“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables.

I miss Fall in Northwest Arkansas.  Fall in Florida, well, it was 92 degrees yesterday.  David and I went to the beach.  It was beautiful, and I am very grateful to be able to live here.  I really do love Fall here.  It is still warm enough to enjoy the beach (even get into the water), and it is a lot less crowded than in summer.The water was crystal clear, and a nice breeze.  It was just nice to sit and enjoy the sound of the waves.  This is something I normally do with Carmen.  David hates the sand, and would rather stay indoors or go to the mountains.  I don’t blame him.  But I love it here.I just miss trees that turn a color other than brown.  I miss the crisp air in the evenings.  I miss this…  Oh, I know, that I should be grateful, and I am very grateful to live where most people come for their vacations.  I just need to see this again in person.  Fall.  Trees with colors, yellow, orange, and bright reds.

Fall NWARK

Maybe next year we will travel to Northwest Arkansas for the turning of the leaves.  I would love to do that again.

What is your favorite season, and why?

Blessings.

guidance · Random Thoughts · thoughts · Uncategorized

Clarity

jachancellorLeave a comment

“Past experience should be a guidepost, not a hitching post.” – unknown

“You cannot help others permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.” – unknown

Two things that are on my mind and heart today.  Praying for clarity, and guidance for my words and actions.

Blessings.

 

Quotes · Random Thoughts · time · Uncategorized

Waste

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“Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.” – Auguste Rodin

Happy Friday!

Blessings.

 

Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Bucket List · dreams · Goals · Random Stuff · Random Thoughts · Uncategorized · WLS

Revising My Bucket List

jachancellor5 Comments

I have been wanting to revamp or streamline my bucket list especially since my weight loss.  To keep myself accountable, I am doing it here.  I am not placing order on the items as when I have the opportunity it will happen, right?

Original post in August 2012 – with updates

  • Travel (anywhere)– Just travel
  • Tandem jump
  • Parasail
  • Ride in a Hot Air Balloon
  • Learn to speak German (take a class)
  • Open a store or tea shop
  • Write a cookbook/book
  • Conquer Algebra (still in process)
  • Participate in a Disney 1/2 marathon (walking)
  • Fit into a size 10-12
  • Crochet or knit a blanket
  • Speak in front of a group of people
  • Learn how to can vegetables, or make jam and fruit preserves
  • Learn more than 6 words in sign language
  • Live in Europe
  • Own a Corvette
  • Go to a Dallas Cowboys Football game
  • Attend a gymnastics or ice skating Olympic event

One of my favorite things to do is eat at famous chef’s restaurants.  My list so far is below, and really don’t have a bucket list for them until we travel somewhere.

Emeril’s, Delmonico Steak House, Las Vegas
Chef Art Smith – Art and Soul, Washington DC, and Homecoming, Disney Springs
Morimoto’s, Asia, Disney Springs
Cat Cora’s, Kouzzina, now closed, at the Board Walk, Disney World
Wolfgang Puck’s, the Dining Room, Disney Springs
Gordan Ramsey’s, The Savoy, London
Paula Dean’s, Lady and Sons, Savannah, GA

Updated list for now anyway.   What is on your list?

Blessings.

Asian · Bariatric Surgery - My Story · crock pot · Recipes · Uncategorized · WLS

Monogolian Beef

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We tried the Mongolian Beef from The Recipe Critic the other night.  When we went to the store, the flank steak was almost double in price what the round steak was…so we ended up getting the round steak. Other than the steak we didn’t modify the recipe.

1 1/2 pounds round steak (flank steak)
¼ cups cornstarch
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
½ teaspoons mince Garlic, Cloves
¾ cups Soy Sauce
¾ cups Water
¾ cups Brown Sugar
1 cup grated Carrots
green onions, for garnish

  1. Cut flank steak (round steak) into thin strips. In a ziplock bag add steak pieces and cornstarch. Shake to coat.
  2. Add olive oil, minced garlic, soy sauce, water, brown sugar and carrots to slow cooker. Stir ingredients. Add coated flank steak and stir again until coated in the sauce.
  3. Cook for high 2-3 hours or on low 4-5 hours until cooked throughout and tender. Can serve over rice and garnish with green onions (forgot these).

David’s plate. It was, again, super yummy.

Blessings!

 

Asian · Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Chicken · Recipes · Uncategorized · weight loss · WLS

Honey Garlic Chicken

jachancellorLeave a comment

David found this recipe, and I am a big believer in someone other than myself can figure out what to have for dinner.  You can find the original recipe here at The Recipe Critic.  She has a lot of yummy sounding foods to try, and I think I will be trying the slow cooker Mongolian beef next.

Made the sauce…

Sautéed the chicken thighs…

Stir together and serve. My plate. Tangy, sweet, a yummy dish that we will be making again.

David’s plate…with rice.

Blessings.

 

Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Carmen · Carmen's Thoughts · Guest · lupus · Uncategorized · WLS

Carmen’s Thoughts

carmensue23Leave a comment

Hey, y’all! It’s Carmen again. As most of you know, my mom has Lupus and had gastric sleeve surgery to aid with symptoms. I wanted to take a minute to talk about how this surgery from last year impacted me.

Before my mom had the sleeve surgery, Lupus kicked her butt. She had “down days” where she felt so fatigued and pained that she could barely move in her chair in the living room. She had to turn down outings with friends and family because her Lupus made her feel so tired (the “Spoon” theory is so great at explaining it).

Fast forward to Thanksgiving 2016. It had been just a few months since Mom had the surgery, and I couldn’t keep up with her when we were Black Friday shopping. She had so much energy, and I didn’t know what to do! It was like she was an entirely new person.

This summer, we went to Disney World – Mom’s first time to Disney since the weight loss surgery. When she was first diagnosed with Lupus, walking around the parks took a toll, and we rented a scooter to help Mom get around. This time, I wanted the scooter. Sure, there were moments that we both wanted to sit on a bench in the air conditioning, but it was so amazing to see her so full of life and enjoyment.

Since Mom has all this new energy, I feel inspired (or obligated) to get in shape myself so I can keep up with her. My excuse that I’m a typical tired college student can’t work this time, because Mom is also going back to school while working full time at the college (it’s awesome that we call each other and complain about classes – FINALLY she understands). 🙂

It has been an adjustment, but it’s definitely one for the better. I’m so thankful that Mom would have FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) as much now. She still has a down day or two, but instead of Lupus kicking her butt, she’s showing it who’s the real boss.