Soup with a Twist

 

During our lovely Wisconsin white out blizzard, I decided to make up a new recipe or rather my version of a recipe. I'm sure there is some kind of recipe out there that is similar. I was too lazy to look anything up.

Chicken Tortellini Soup-minus the chicken and add a Twist

2 containers of chicken stock (or more water and 3 chicken bouillon cubes)

1/2 gallon of water

4 carrots peeled and chopped (or half bag of baby carrots chopped up)

Half an onion (chopped or sliced however you like your onions)

Sprinkle pepper, fresh garlic, and parsley (whatever amount works for you). Warning: I added a lot of pepper, which made the soup too spicy for the kids (hahaha more for me)

You can add chopped celery if desired. I didn't have any.

Dump all of this into a big pot. Bring to a boil then reduce to medium for 30 minutes.

Bring back to a boil.

Add a bag of Tortellini (any brand you like from the store). Wait for Tortellini to rise to the top. Then set to medium for 5 to 7 minutes.

Add the Twist: Take a very green (under ripen) avocado. Peel, chop, and add to the soup.

Simmer for about 10 minutes and serve.

Obviously, you can add chicken if you want to. I just didn't.

Enjoy!


 

Out with the Old and in with the New

The camel limousine has been with us in sickness and in health for ten years, but it's time to say good-bye.

Say hello to my new treadmill.

Ironically, my old treadmill was ten years old too. The camel limousine and my old treadmill retired together. Adios!

Now I can start training for my first marathon. FYI that's 26.2 miles. I didn't experience enough pain during my half marathon last year so my masochistic side has over powered my sanity. Don't worry, I'll share the pain as I go.

Happy Weekend!

Winter Blues

I'm definitely struggling with this winter. Due to my treadmill that has finally coughed it's last cough, I'm stuck running outside. Yes, I could go to the gym and run on a treadmill, but I find the gym to be a waste of time. To drive there, put my stuff away, find a machine, cool down, take shower, get dressed, and drive back home takes me approximately two hours. If I run at home, cool down, shower, and dress, it only takes me an hour and fifteen minutes. I'm all about the most efficient way possible.

So in my midst of attempting to run outside, the weather wasn't exactly cooperating with me. Two weekends ago, in our Godforsaken winter weather, we endured a snow blizzard and a little bit of melting that turned into icy streams scattered on the roads. At this point I'm reading to crawl up the walls, I need to have my running fix. I'm left with a day that has sleet in the forecast and the roads are already pretty frosty. I take the chance (what a risk taker I am!)

Starting out, I'm able to navigate around the icy spots without slipping and cracking my head open so far. I've mentioned before we don't have sidewalks in most of our neighborhoods, but we do have some disconnected bike/walking trails scattered around some areas of this tiny little spec on earth, I call home. There happens to be a short stretch on the road behind my house. I decided to take that route out of my neighborhood. The downside is that the paths aren't usually plowed. Running in the snow isn't bad, it's like running in the sand and tends to be a good workout. The downside to this path is half way up a steep hill, the path ends at a three way intersection. In order to continue up the hill, I have to cross the narrow road blinded by any oncoming traffic.

In my process of crossing, a car comes flying over the hill. I was almost safely to the side, but since there isn't much space on the side of the road, I jumped into the culvert to avoid any misconception between the car and my body. After sinking up to my knees in soft snow and my shoes absorbing all the water passing through soaked ground below, I continued up the hill. The snow looked deceivingly solid, but with some of the melting conditions in previous days I hadn't thought to consider what lay underneath the perfect layer of snow. It was my split second decision I made to keep a safe distance between my body and metal. 

I didn't start to second guess my decision until I got to the top of the hill when my feet were soaked to the bone and water was squishing out of my shoes. The questions started: Should I go back? Will I get hypothermia? Will I get blisters? Who can I call to pick me up? Oh wait I don't have a phone. Whose house is the closest to where I am? All my answers were I don't want to go back. I will turn around when I get cold, feel blisters forming, or figure out the closest family/friend who would be able to take me home. There I constructed a plan so I continued, though I hate having wet feet when I run.

Oddly enough, my feet never got cold so I finished my run successfully. As long as I kept moving, I didn't get cold. I need Spring to come.

Now I have to start researching treadmills so I don't have to have wet feet when I run anymore. It's been ten years since I've been in the market.

Happy Days!          

Cow vs Horse

I read this article this morning Europe's horse meat scandal keeps growing.

Immediately after reading it, I was horrified. Then I started thinking about it in a logical way. The question that popped in my head was "Would I eat a horse burger if it was labeled as a horse burger?"


Note that I'm not an expert in the food chain or scientist of processed food, but I am a curious person who eats meat on a regular basis. Let's face it meat is meat. Granted most meat has different tastes, but in the grand scheme of things it's all meant for substance in the game of survival. Yes I'm aware of the vegetarian groups. It is possible to survive on a vegetarian diet, which I have nothing against. For this post, let's pretend everyone eats meat. There is an abundant amount of different kinds of meat sources in the world: cow, pig, chicken, dog, bear, deer, buffalo, moose, fish, alligator (watch Swamp People), etc.

What would be so wrong adding horse or dog to the menu? As long as the industry standard regulations are followed (not that there hasn't been mistakes in the current supply chain), what would be the problem? I know, I know. You'll have to follow my train of thought here by taking out all emotion and the societal customs we've been raised in this country with.

Think about it. Cows, pigs, chickens and even buffaloes (Just visit South Dakota and you can get a buffalo burger) are being raised domestically for the national meat supply chain. Horses and dogs are raised as domestic animals in our country already. If we could get over our fondness and the cuteness of having horses and dogs as pets, would people be willing to buy a horse burger or a dog burger? What if it was cheaper than beef? Having choices is what our country was found on.

My question to you is would you buy horse meat if it was labeled as horse meat for your family?