Bariatric Surgery - My Story · football · Pimento Cheese · Recipes · Uncategorized · WLS

Pimento Cheese

jachancellor2 Comments

Yes, pimento cheese.  Football season begs for pimento cheese.  At least in my house.  I used to make it a lot.  And, then stopped.

Forgot to take pictures of the process, but:

img_1702

2 blocks of cheddar cheese (sharp, mild or medium), coarsely shredded
1 jar of chopped pimentos (or can get whole or sliced and chop them)
1 Tablespoon ground dry mustard (an absolute must have)
Ground pepper to taste
Red chili flakes or Tabasco to taste
Mayonnaise – to taste (about 1/4 cup for a creamy texture)

Mix everything together, and chill for about 30 minutes to let the flavors blend.  Serve with crackers or pita chips or chips.   Eating from a spoon optional.

Blessings.

Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Meal Prep · Uncategorized · weight loss · WLS

Meal Prep

jachancellorLeave a comment

I am not the best at meal prep. 

The past couple of weeks however I have made an effort to cook enough for lunch and dinner to get us through the week. 

Dinner tonight with leftover kraut, brats cooked in cider and boiled potatoes. 

David’s plate. 

Chicken salad with sugared pecans for lunch for the week. 

Trying. Right? 

Blessings!!

Beth Moore · Random Thoughts · Sunday · thoughts · Uncategorized

Sunday Thought

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Restoration.

“Praying this is a season of restoration.  Sometimes it’s about swallowing our pride, owning our own part, and saying a real, live “I’m sorry.”” – Beth Moore

Restoration.  So many hurting right now.  So much loss in Texas.  So far most of my family is okay.  One cousin is washing and drying clothes for those in need.  Another set of cousins rescued some people in their canoe.  Everyone is doing what they can with what they have.

Everyone has something going on.  Every day we have the opportunity for restoration.  The sun rises everyday whether we see it or not, no matter what we are going through.  Harvey has placed this in real time with lots of things that need to be done.  First, waiting on the water to recede so that clean up can happen.  Second, ripping everything down to the foundation.  Third, rebuilding.

It is the same in anything we go through.  Some things are more devastating than others, but we all have something that gets destroyed, rips through us, and we have to rebuild.  Most of the time the hardest part is letting go to get the let the new in.

I feel this way with my anxiety.  It is something that I have to psychically push my way through it.  I know that staying calm in a situation is the best.  With my anxiety, most things appear to be a huge mountain, and in all reality, it is probably more like a mole hill.  A gentle bump in the road to slow down, take a breath, and just be okay.

Hoping all is well wherever you are.

Blessings, always.

 

 

football · Random Thoughts · Razorbacks · thoughts · Uncategorized

Football

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And so it begins:  SEC Football.

There are lots of lions and tigers and bears but only one Razorback.  Tusk is our one-of-a-kind mascot.  Wooo Pig Sooie isn’t just a hog call.  It’s The Hog Call.  There’s no place like Fayetteville on game day.  When you hear the Razorback Band play Arkansas Fight Song…

…and see the Razorbacks run through the “A” in Reynolds Razorback Stadium…

There’ll be no doubt about it.  THIS IS ARKANSAS FOOTBALL.

Razorback

 

Hogs and kisses!

 

Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Cabbage Rolls · Cauliflower Rice · low-carb diet · Recipes · Uncategorized · WLS

Cabbage Rolls

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Cabbage Rolls with a modified filling of cauliflower rice…

I remembered why I don’t make these that often (like every ten years or so)! Head of cabbage – core and place in a large pot of boiling water.img_1641-2As the cabbage cooks and the leaves wilt (slightly) remove and place in a ice bath. Brown hamburger (or ground turkey), and remove.  Shred a carrot (for sweetness), and slice of a purple onion (again for sweetness). I cheat and use the packaged rice cauliflower – super easy.  Place in a pan, add the hamburger, onion, carrot, and a teaspoon of garlic.  I also added a bit of ground pepper, paprika, and oregano. Stir, and cook until the onion is translucent.Line your crock pot with the odds and ends of the cabbage.With each cabbage leaf, remove the hard stem.  Place a bit of the filing in each leaf, roll up like a burrito or egg roll.Place in the crock pot on the extra leaves.  Layer until complete (usually two layers).  Place another leaf layer in between the rolls.Again, I cheat (too much homework), and use spaghetti sauce.  I usually just use whatever is on sale.  Pour over the cabbage rolls.  Cook on high for 5-6 hours or until the cabbage is cooked through and everything is tender.img_1656-1David’s plate.  Some of the rolls didn’t stay together.  Oops.  Still tasted good.My plate.  You can not tell the difference from not having rice in these beauties.  They are time consuming to make but so worth it.img_1666So good.

Blessings.

birthdays · David's Thoughts · Random Thoughts · thoughts · Uncategorized

Age

dchancellor850Leave a comment

Howdy – David here again! This time out I thought I’d offer up some thoughts on something that everyone can relate to – aging! I turned 54 last week, and had to get my driver’s license renewed, complete with a new picture. Given that the last picture I had taken was 14 years ago, I guess it was time… But the physical changes reflected in those pictures were definitely noticeable! A lot less hair, and what was there was a lot more grey.

I think our society as a whole has a real fear of growing older. We worship youth, and desperately cling to it. And advertisers are more than happy to play to those obsessions.

But you know what? Getting older isn’t that bad! I mean, I miss the resilience of my younger form. I find that I get tired more easily now, and it takes longer to recover when I do push myself. But, overall, as I often say, getting older “beats the alternative”! I would certainly rather have another birthday than not!

Seriously though, I like being this age. I have a level of confidence and comfort with myself that I lacked as a younger man. I have experience and knowledge that can only be gained by living. And, more than anything, I think I have gained an appreciation for the power of the passage of time.

How many times do we hear, when we’re younger, that “time heals all wounds”. Surprisingly enough, I have found that is true. And that is something you don’t learn until you experience it a time or two yourself.

The final thing I’ll mention in this meditation on aging is one of the most important lessons I have learned – everything changes. Nothing stays the same forever. And that is a powerful concept to internalize. It gives me a greater appreciation for the joys in my life, because I know they won’t be there forever. And it gives my hope during the trials of life, because I know they won’t be there forever either.

So in summary, my hope for you is that you embrace today, whatever age you are. Cherish those things that bring you joy, and try to look beyond whatever challenges you may be facing. For both will pass.

beach · beaches · Holiday · Random Stuff · Random Thoughts · Uncategorized

National Beach Day

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I love where I live as I live 15 minutes from the beach.  I am posting older pictures for this holiday as I am at work, and have homework to do after.  Ugh.  But…2ec561f4-5786-4dae-9695-4c833242c3bc-3Today is National Beach Day.
Again, I get to live here.

Blessings.

Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Chicken Salad · Cravings · Recipes · Stephen · Uncategorized · WLS

Chicken Salad

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I had been craving chicken salad from a local restaurant on Sunday.  Of course they are closed on Sundays.  But, Stephen used to work there, and he was home.  I thought that between the two of us we could figure out the recipe (or close enough) for us to enjoy some chicken salad.

They use boiled chicken breast.  We didn’t have those, but we had some leftover rotisserie chicken and had a large can of chicken breast.  Chopped up both (drained the canned chicken), and placed in a bowl.img_1673img_1672They also serve this salad with sliced red grapes.  We prepped those as well.img_1678They use a food processor, and yes, I have one but didn’t really want to use one.  I had my old food chopper and made good use of it.  This is about one medium sized stalk of celery, minced.img_1675They use a yellow onion, I had purple.  Minced as well and about 1/4 of the onion is all we needed.img_1676About a cup of mayonnaise, and 1/4 cup of lemon juice.  Also, ground black pepper (again, to taste).img_1674img_1679Another topper is sugared pecans.  I always seem to have pecan halves in the freezer (bonus), so I got out about a cup, and placed them in a skillet.  I also added about a tablespoon of white granulated sugar, and about two teaspoons of brown sugar.  Sauteed until melted, and the pecans are crispy.img_1680img_1681My plate with 1/2 cup of chicken salad, and a teaspoon (or a little more of the pecans), some grapes, and 3 crackers.  So yummy.img_1683

Loved that Stephen and I made this, and that I have enough for the week at work.

Blessings.

Holiday · Random Stuff · Uncategorized · Wine

National Red Wine Day

jachancellorLeave a comment

I have discovered Malbec.  I haven’t been drinking it that long, but love the deep, fruity flavor. And Cabernet Sauvignon is nice as well…


I am really enjoying this label Altos Del Plata.  Have had their Malbec and it is amazing. 

Have a glass…cheers!

 

Beth Moore · Random Thoughts · storms · Sunday · thoughts · Uncategorized

Sunday Thought

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Storms.  Hurricane Harvey.  Life.  Anxiety.

“A bad storm can blow in a beautiful season.  The Bible proves over and over that how something begins does not get to dictate how it ends.” – Beth Moore

The storm and flooding from Hurricane Harvey is devastating today and it will continue for a while longer.  I have family in Houston, and friends close by.  Worried about them, and will be there if needed.

The quote above reminds me that in the midst of whatever we are going through, God will shine if allowed.  I have to remind myself that homework is a gift.  That I get to do it.  I know that homework is nothing in comparison to a hurricane – please know that.

I have had many opportunities to do different things in my life.  This one has caused more anxiety that others.  I have to be perfect, right?  No.  Only Christ.  Only Christ is the perfect one.  I can strive to be perfect, but will fail daily.  Failing is okay (okay, maybe not with class).  Stumbling is better.  Remembering to get back up after the fall is even better.

Remembering that storms bring rainbows.  We just have to wait for them to come.

My anxiety is much like a storm.  It comes in waves, hard and heavy.  After it passes, I can see the rainbows.  I don’t remember how bad the storm is really, just that I got through it.  Wanting to get through my storm today.

Blessings.