The Christening of the Crock Pot: Lebanese Lamb Stew with labne & za'atar

Behold my new gadget. The crock pot. This is a 6qt size crock pot & personally I feel like if you happen to be feeding a family of 8 and spend much of your day hyperventilating & cleaning up after your kids unsuccessful attempts to water-paint with milk on the floor you will most likely squeal for joy much like I did upon it's arrival.

One nice thing about it is you can take out the inside crockery & put it directly on the table to serve. It also came with it's handy dandy little feature that I like to call "the probe factor"

Observe the probe. It's a little thermometer thingie to check the temperature of what's cooking. And of course in case you didn't know how to "probe"-- on the lid there's this little clarification.....

Japlish is fun but there's nothing like good ol' straightforward english.

In my eagerness to try it out I made a Lebanese lamb stew on probably one of the hottest days of the year so far. Started it out around 11 in the morning & set the timer & temperature. And yes I did insert the probe.

I was happy with the recipe. The ingrediants were simple & though I was a little suspicious about the amount of cinnamon it called for in the long run it seemed to blend in quite well. It was a full flavored stew, served it with plain rice (1/2 brown) but I have to admit in our as yet, non-airconed dining room it was a rather foolish idea & we ended up sweating it out in a self-inflicted sauna, yet somehow no one could stop themselves & we nearly finished the whole thing.

I also threw together a little batch of labne (Lebanese cheese) I didn't have time to make it overnight but let it set for about 6 hours, hense a rather thinner than normal result.

A few spoonfuls of olive oil & a few spoonfuls of za'atar. Which is a stunning lovely mixture of spices and I'm quite serious when I say I could eat it by the spoonful.

Finished product.
The DH sure seemed to love this stuff though he couldn't ever manage to say it right --- so cute!

All in all, I'm really happy about the crockpot but probably won't be using it often (besides perhaps sphagetti sauce) till autumn.

Summer Snippet: Frozen Bananananana

Call me immature but I always in the back of my tiny brain I couldn't quite conceive of eating bananas frozen --- as is! Somehow it seemed like some kind of pre-schooler project with a name like "frozen-banana-monkey-doo-surprise-of-science"!

But upon the death of my Bauer blender (God rest his tired motor) I had a slew of frozen zip-locked bananas. So my in a moment of genius (and you know I'm saying that with a massive tablespoon of sarcasm because I'm sure that everyone who has freezers and bananas has probably already discovered this when they were preschoolers) -- I found that the kids would devour twice as many bananas when I'd just cutm' up & throw them in a bowl. But then again they'd have to break out singing an U.Ken/Masa song "I like banana's cuz' they have no bones" (song starts at 1:28)

Of course when DH took the kids out to play & I was alone (nya ha ha) I decided it was time to break out the Sundae Syrup (yes, that chemical laden stuff that's sure to give us brain cancer)

.......And by golly it was fantastic. I AM A BELIVER! And if you can feeeeel the spirit I think you'll be a believer tooooo!

PS. Though I vouch wholy for this snack, I equally vouch for the horrificness of having your kid drop a few of these frozen banana bombs under their chair & then getting to step on one later when it's desinagrated to a pile of mush under a puddle of juicey business. (just thought I should leave you with that visual to keep you on your toes!!)

Random Stuffies!

I have realized something & I hope you'll lend me your inner ear. This blog has become quite the skeletal blog of cooking and not even hopping with many new recipes. Furthermore it contains close to zero snippets of pointless personal information. Is this an area worth cultivating? Probably not, but since I'm feeling beat -- in no particular order & for no particular reason, here are a few things that you probably didn't need to know:

- I watched some of Jamie Oliver for the first time yesterday (Gasp!! Shock). And in a moment of honesty I must say that I don't really care what a man looks like, when I watch a guy do a controlled dance of slicing, mixing, kneading, & flipping & "talking shop" at a kitchen counter....my heart has been stolen out from underneath my apron. I fear if a man could cook like that for me I might just keel over & elope presently.

- My 1 year old son's only mathematical word is "9". So my kids have taken to bombarding him with ridiculous questions like: "How old will Erika be in 6 years?", "What's 3 squared?", "How many times does 9 go into 81?", and everyone predictably cheers when he magically comes up with the right answer. And he's pleased to be the perpetual genius. Except for when you ask him his age.

- I can't seem to remember the last time I bought Mascara. I know it's awful but I have a SIL who keeps me supplied with a healthy dose and she seems to always have more (I would too with lashes like hers). Unfortunately with the turning of a new leaf (aka "there's no reason to look like a tired ol' mom just cuz' you are one") I realized I was getting stys like crazy in the course of a month and finally ended up with a small chalazion on my eyelid. Ewww....Panic attack. Hoping it'll just go away & not leave me looking like the Elephant Lady. And YEEEEAH, you don't have to tell me what I am now VERY aware of --- Apparently someone wasn't exactly listening when they talked about not using other ppl's mascara or old mascara. This AM I just threw away all 6 of mine. My fav being the Lancome Hypnose & Estee Lauder MagnaScopic. It's time to do a little shopping.

- My Sistah is coming next month just to spice things up tells me she's not eating sugar, white flour or dairy products. Dang!! Do you hear that...................that is the sound of my very small brain trying to figure out what on earth I should cook for dinner when she comes.

- If you are still reading this post I feel I should also add that if there is anything I love about cooking, it's being shown something new in the kitchen, told I'm doing something wrong, given a new idea or recipe.
Basically, I love the feeling of being a "beginner". I love it when someone says, "What, you haven't ever made ____?" or "Is that how you do it?......Interesting (translation: bizarre)!" Call this coincidence but the most feedback I get seem to be from the lovely Aussie ladies (or residing in Aussie ladies) who dish out ideas suggestions & snickers at the wrong way I do thing. Nothing more attractive....keep it comin'.

Well that's it folksies. Crank that noisy fan up to full blast & kick back & hopefully I'll have some good foodie talk next time around.

Ciao!

Summer snippits: Pesto/Mayo

Hey Ya'll! Are you feelin' the heat like I'm feeling the heat? Seems like summer suddenly ran up behind us & dumped a bucket of warm jello on us.

If there's anything that surmises the way I feel about summer meals there are two words: COLD/FAST

If you can't get in & out of the kitchen in under an hour you may as well forget it. Words like, "gentle simmer", "deep fry" and God forbid, "stir for 1 hr on high heat" are phrases that shall be banished from this blog for the next 2 months.

And being the busy soul that I am I'm gonna have to settle for keeping this blog alive with short snippets & ideas for easy, fast, occasional "cheat", but most of all COLD summer food items. (Note I say "food ITEMS" because I'm feeling so lazy that I may not even get around to posting an actual complete recipe)

Today's quicky: Pesto & Mayo

What's in it you say?

Let's think--- ah yes.....Pesto & Mayo.

I would put about 2 tbsp pesto to 1/2 a c. of mayo but to each his own. And frankly, I never measure anyway, so I just made that up on the fly!

There's no sandwich that couldn't stand a little of this (except perhap PB & J) no, veggies that wouldn't be proud to have it as a dip. A cold pototo salad would definetly be dressed up, and what a riot you'd have serving a dollop on crackers with cheese. (Like, literal riot........in your living room, (esp if there was a McNair) scratch the cheese, just serve the crackers & pesto. Passable as a dip for grilled or bbq'd fish or chicken. And if you really want a good cheat throw in a little vinegar & water to thin it out & call it salad dressing. Voila! Pat yourself on the sweaty back, you're a culinary genius!

I've covered Pesto previously & extolled it's virtues in with a rather suspicious devotion that may not refect well on my (eh-hum) priorities in life. Aaanyway, I've descovered the perfection (out of necessity) of pesto made with a morter & pestle. I even made a whole jar full for the lovely Ken & Tacha. I do hope it was enjoyed. As the story goes, "Long time smashing basil leaves and splatting self with green oil --- Part of gift!"

Well, that's all folkies. Enjoy your cool summer night!

The New House....come on by...bring your own oven!

In case you were wondering (which I'm sure you weren't) what our new place looks like here's a little look. If you're too busy to come on by this way just go ahead & send us a nice housewarming gift like....oh, say.......a lawn mower......air cons & maybe an tandoori oven. (Yeah, didn't think I heard that you've got one, did you?!!)

These pics are as random as they come, so breeze through & then go along your way, oh faithful follower!!

The vines on the porch are blooming. (Dunno the names of these) but they sure are purrty.

Some are doing school....some are on an early vaca!

Our cute little porch & the 1/2 of the yard that is still in "God's Hands"!

Yikes, how'd this one get in here?

I suppose this depicts the consistency of children, they will get in trouble no matter where they live. Miss #2 snapped a pic of poor Mr#6 when she followed the screams, evidently he got himself stuck in a box in DH's office somehow or another.

Ready to feed an army...so come on by! Near table is for school, far table is for dining. Kitchen to the far left

This is the part of the kitchen I'm most pleased with.....if I had it my way a kitchen should be covered from ceiling to floor with hooks & shelves so it would look like the "bag lady" came to stay in your kitchen forever & ever.

Drowning the herbs with care!

Finally a big enough bedroom to turn into a proper railroad.

And so ends my measly photos!

PS. Still waitin' for your foodie suggestions, so......come on now!

Pioneer Woman's Corn Fritters

If you're a regular here you'll know already that breakfast is my favorite meal to expend energy on. And on this blessed day of days I happened to score some great blueberries for ultra-reasonable. Berry season is upon us, glory be!!

But today's real showstopper goes to these dudes.....

Behold the Corn Fritters!

Now now, I know what you're going to say & before you start pelting me with streaming toilet paper rolls -- my 13 followers -- bear in mind the state of confusion that I am presently experiencing.

(Tune up the cello & violins) Everything that I've known & loved about cooking has been yanked out from underneath me. My oven is gone. My blender of 4 years has broken. Even my handy wooden spoon has split down the middle & had to be thrown out. I've found that I'm neither a kitchen genius nor am I skilled at using a frying pan or grill. I'm finding myself seriously wandering around my kitchen a little lost for ideas. I'm a mess & YES, I'm resorting to deep frying, and first thing in the morning no less. But before you lash out I want you to try to whip up some of these babies.

The recipe is from my ever favorite, albeit slightly overly indulgent in the good things dept, Pioneer Woman. If nothing else her food photography is fantastic.

And you'll find the recipe here.

You can prepare the batter the night before & then slap it together in the morning. And to be frank & dreadfully honest, I think I ate 1/2 of these babies before the kids ever came down for breakfast.
PS. Any great food ideas are more than welcome. Do your part to save me from myself & my vat of deep frying oil.

A Wedding to Remember

I had a grand ol' time at a wedding this week. One of those once in a blue moon things since the last wedding I was at was my own about 7 years ago. I had a great time though it took a long time to sort out those mixed feelings of guilt & slight awkwardness of not having anyone to hold. So if you happened to see the disheveled lady rocking her purse to sleep or chasing kids around saying, "Lemmie hold you!"....yeah, that was me.

I was genuinely impressed with the thought, planning & detail that Ken & Tacha put into their wedding considering they are a LOK family. Case in point: At the first dance I mentioned to someone that if they broke out in a choreographed song & dance I'd be forever impressed. And sure enough they did. And THAT was entertainment. Good job you two!

So here are a few pics. I was determined to not just take pics but see it from my 'real eyes'.

Did my sister's make up in a hot room full of hot ladies.

These adorable cousins were dolling each other up too. Awww......

The bride/groom & family. Their two youngest put the room in an uproar when the walked up the aisle so perfectly holding hands....you have to understand people, the littlest one is like...1 foot tall.

Good musicAnd good food.

My latest sister-in-law also happens to be a professional quality caterer. I had the pleasure of having her work her skills at our last Christmas dinner. I tried to help out in the kitchen a bit & was kinda worried I was gonna put my unwanted "rustic" spin (AKA: flying food & 'healthy' plops of whipped cream) on the food unless I slowed down & got that same zen calmness she had.

I don't know if she chose the menu but whomever did, did an excellent job. It was considerate of the time of year, the food was light, simple, mess free, & full of variety & color.

I love to learn new things from other cooks & I am positively impressed by Yosh's style, efficiancy & calmness throughout the ordeal. At no point was their too little food, and the plates just seemed to keep coming with not repeats but new items. Food was served in small enough portions, & plated beautifully. Good stuff.

I mean seriously, now? Pregnant? Limited time & budget? Directing cooking for more than 100? With only a few extra hands? She might kill me for saying this but if you're gonna get married & need a caterer........you know who I'M recommending. Nuff said!

Gosh & that cake was adorable too. As far as I understand Tasha designed it & Marie Claire put it together. Talk about brave. To be honest if someone asked me to do a wedding cake I'd probably do like St. Peter & deny I ever knew how to decorate.

And though the cake itself was a bit heavy I got some to take home (Tx Josh) & had me a rockin' black Italian coffee with a slice of Disaronno soaked wedding cake. (It's little wonder I drank 3 cups of coffee yesterday, eh-hum)
My party crashin' nephew Dilly-boy. (who quite literally got crashed into & ended up being doused with soda from head to toe) The boy will grow to be a warrior, or a contemporary dancer.
And 3 of the 5 sistahz!




That's it on the pics...but ovenless/blenderless recipes comin' your way soon.

Watermelon Sorbet

Somehow I'm hoping I don't get anymore 'followers' there's something just loveable about opening my Dashboard & seeing my 12 disciples!

If you must know, I haven't had any time to cook anything inventive. I'm sure to turn my grill into the gateway to creative desperation but as it stands I'm still knee deep in empty boxes, scrunched up newspaper & odd sockies.

So I give you this:

If I could find words to describe my affection for watermelon I would, but suffice it to say it is in my opinion the Queen of fruit. (Albeit a fat queen, but Queen nonetheless)

If it wasn't for slices of ice cold, crisp, juicy, dripping, red goodness we may as well just fold up & lie in the baking sun being bitten relentlessly by mosquitos whist having our eardrums rendered useless by the semis.

My heart was nearly stolen forever when friendly pal of mine walked a mile to bring me home a watermelon one day. Though come to think of it he probobly rolled it all the way to my doorstep. Could life get any better than having a watermelon in the fridge with your name on it? I THINK NOT!!

So here's how it works. Grab 1/2 a watermelon & cut it into chunks & de-seed it. Beware of your children lest one stick a seed up their nose & it sprouts forth a watermelon shoot making for an embarassing trip to the doctor. (No laughing, it happened to my Bro-in-law, it could happen to you!!)


Try despeartely to not snitch too much & then blend it with 2 or 3 tbsp of vodka & if your inclined 3 tbsp-1/4 a c of sugar. Remind yourself you're not making a frozen coctail & so you are NOT going to add more vodka & down it in a moment of weakness.

Put it back in fridge for at least 2 hrs or freezer for 1/2 an hr to get reeeeally cold again.

If you have a ice-cream maker you can at this point (following the makers instructions) churn the watermelon from slushy juice to freezing goodness.

If you don't have an ice-cream maker have no fear, you can always make this a granita by pouring it into a 8-11" baking tray (or other suitable tray) and freezing it for an hr or 2 (till it's hard but not rock solid) then scraping it with a fork into a bowl for a nice Kakigori-ish feel.


Now if you're want to get into the asthetics you may want to put some little mini choco-chips too but personally I think frozen chocolate has an awful texture so I didn't bother.


A little word of warning. Don't overdo it with the vodka as the alcohol will prevent it from getting solid. But keep a look out for "Massive Indulgence of WHOLE Vodka soaked Watermelon" experience, coming as soon as I can get my hands on one. And you better be at my house when I make it or I will have to polish it off myself

Aaaaand......that's all that she wrote.....catch youes later!!

Around the block.......

Hey ho my 11 followers, been awhile but I'm still alive & kicking....quite often my left leg when my 1 year old keeps trying to bite me to show me how very much he loves me.

For any of you who didn't know I was moving....I moved! And if you thought I was ignoring you.....I was!! Of course I was also steeped in rooms of boxes, manly men doing manly things like lifting, hurling & otherwise moving 5 unromantic 2 ton trucks worth of the ever ambiguous "STUFF". Not to mention giddy children enjoying the melodious sounds of their grimy feet soiling my freshly waxed naked house & thoroughly echoing it onto the next prefecture. Needless to say the week has been long.

Huge thank you's to everyone who helped us out. Mr. McNair who never ceases to amaze me with his ability to work overtime and survive on a combination of happiness & CC lemon. Oli & Mr. D who took time on their day off to unload boxes with DH, & last of all the terribly efficient Navi who navigated himself swimmingly through the ocean of furniture on our first day here & virtually saved me from being stuck with the 6 hoodlums in a "Tarzan/Jane" situation.

Any of you who have moved recently can testify with me that it takes awhile to recover so as much as I'd like to beat my brain for 2 or 3 really exciting things to tell you. I'm going to have to settle for a few pics from our move.

Moon mental season is upon us & I'm actually sensing either a moment of pure genius or complete stupidity coming on for a non-baked birthday treat for my dear Cancer Husband of love & fantastic truck packing skills.

On with the pictures now, shall we?:
I know this is dumb....but this pic hurts..........BAD!! Baking ware that is packed away yet!


I just knew there was something missing from my pre-teen floor waxing adventures......RED BULL!!

PS. Two words that make me cringe like no other: "CLEANING SUPPLIES!"


An empty house & my Libra children.


Good bye old house (& lawyer boy, who shall not be missed much)


Kids will find anywhere to play. One of 6 rooms in the "war zone".


A moment w/ DH. Bloody Marys & smoked salmon hours de vours.



Ritz/Parmesan/smoked salmon/(cough cough, mayo)/dill & capers.

In the words of Steve Irwin, "Ain't she a beauty, mate?"

What we have in common.....

Well....since I have a moment to myself I think I need to share the issue that has been dragging it's sorry self through my mind. I'd like you to take a moment to observe these pictures.......


Baked potatoes, tortas, pot roast, muffins, rolls, quiche, focaccia, pies, cakes, buscuits, casseroles, crusts, turkey, cookies & buns....................

I'm sure you know what they all have in common. (Besides from the obvious fact that most of them are an unattractive shade of brown)

Each of these items have spent time in an oven.

...........And frankly I don't think I can say anymore about it or I may just get too wracked with emotion. Seriously, if you're quiet you will hear me now as I weep over my keyboard like a pathetic cooking niney.

Though I won't deny some tiny part of me likes the challenge of going at it without one. I already foresee a greater desire to be in the garden & focus more on fresh foods, grilling, BBQing, possibly even canning. But for the most part I'm just a sort of in denial. I don't have much energy to go on a baking binge before we leave. I just take little mini-moments throughout the day to stare at my oven whistfully & sigh in an audible & possibly alarming way to the occasional offspring who catch me mooning over it.

But who knows perhaps there will be a massive breakthroughs in electric oven technology in the next month that will enable electric ovens to blast to a healthy 200c in 5 min or less.

Not likely, but if not....who needs cake,there's always sushi, right?

Cooking with Jamie: Sticky Saucepan Carrots

.....well not personally cooking with him but I figured since I took the time to pick up the book at the library, pick out & scan recipes to try I better post some as well. I get finicky about posting recipes according to when the fruits or veggies are in season & as you may have heard me rant already, carrots are best in winter -- but hey let's not be too picky.

But (as you may already know) we're going to be moving house soon. And as well as wiping noses & chasing half nekid hoodlems & packing boxes, I'm also trying to come to grips with the fact that I will not have a convection oven in our next house. (breath in...breath out). More on that later.

So since I haven't posted a reasonable recipe (unless you include Lemonade with Maple syrup & Cayanne pepper, eww). I give to you the mighty Naked Chef's Sticky Saucepan Carrots! (somehow I loathe to say that in one streaming sentence and if you can without cringing a little in your soul there's something wrong with you).

Lazy me has scanned the recipe for your viewing pleasure. Die hards will click on the picture. Die-not-so-hards....I'm sure I've lost you already:

Cute little babies B4

Cute little babies after!!



Not bad for a simple recipe. I think it goes great with steak/hamburgers & potatoes.

Mini-Photographer strikes

Miss #2 loves to take pics...I'm sure she's got an eye for it.

This is probably one of 10 photos of DH & I --- EVER.



Many hours were NOT spent styling my hair to look "just so" --- Wind blown & free-spirited. Secret to psychotic mother hair style.......JUST WAKE UP IN THE MORNING & don't really care enough to try. Promise, you too can own this super-duper-bed-head special!!

The Cleanse (Day 5 & 6)

Day 5: Nothing really spectacular, feeling a bit better, getting the hang of this & feel like I've been doing it forever. Frankly I'm on a bit of a high, I'm spaced out & a bit tired half the day but on the flip side I don't have the energy to get cranky.

Strange & possibly horrible happening today, the coffee my husband made today smelled very very bad for some reason, no longer that aromatic attraction seducing my nasal cavity --- somehow it just smelled wrong.

After looking at how long it's going to take to get back to eating "normal" food again, I think I'm gonna call it quits tomorrow. I've got to start packing in earnest for our coming move. I'll need to back out the same way I got into this. By going back to freshly squeezed juice for 2 days & then wrapping up day 2 with a vegetable soup. (I'm scheming already)

Day 6: Good thing I'm stopping tomorrow because I'm out of lemons & frankly don't have the energy to get up & go walking in the rain for some more. The girls came home from Camp tonight & their energy level is making my lack of it painfully obvious.

Today I made cookies with the kids (to give to my friendly friends who took Mr 3# for a few days). This must've been the first time I've done it without snitching. Seemed odd, but then....really....all cookie batter practically tastes the same, doesn't it?

Did my last SWF tonight....Glory be! I feel the pain of some of my sibs who suffer from IBS. You poor poor things! I lova lova you!

As you can see my ability to post a string of intelligent sentences is slipping quickly from my grasp so I'm just gonna bail & see you when I'm a "normal" again!

3 Cheers for Detoxing!!!

(a tinsy part of me just can't wait to drink beer & see how cheap of a drunk I'll be NOW!!)

The Cleanse (Day 3 & 4)

Day 3: Being busy all day with your kids doesn't leave much time to really notice that you're surviving on about 900cal of fluid. I'm not sure if it's the freedom from a lack of preoccupation with food (not that I think about it all day long) or it could be that I don't have much energy but I find that I'm spending a lot more time just hanging out with my kids instead of running around like crazy doing.....stuff. (let's you & I pretend that laundry doesn't exist)

Today's moment of massive food tease came when I made my husband a ramen. All my craving was thrown into the making of that baby (dang, he better have loved it). Miso lamen with two eggs, pile of moyashi, 4 sheets of nori, plie of negi, and 2 garlics sliced & fried crisp in goma oil with freshly ground black pepper. "Sigh no more lady, Sigh no more!"

I'm noticing a kind of achy feeling in the bones of my upper back when I walk up the stairs & frankly by the end of the day I had a naaaaasty head ache but somehow exhaustion took over.

Day 4: I woke up & made waffles, cheese omelets & tomato/basil salad for breakfast and somehow survived.

An unexpected intense craving came upon me suddenly when I had to feed my 1 yr old an onigiri & I so very much wanted to have just one bite of that white white rice.

My DH's mixture of amusement & curiosity has it's annoying moments. He's taken to calling me "Maple Syrup Lady". And repeatedly forgets & asks me if he should make me a plate at meals. His morbid fascination with the SWF has lost it's humor by day 4. Boys will be boys!

In researching today is supposed to be or begin the peak of physical discomfort as your body is seriously flushing your body of toxins. And I concur....that ache in my bones is jarring every step I take now, I'm all stuffy like I have a cold, my tounge is white (grosso), and I'm expecting pretty much anything awful right about now.

Considering stopping the Cleanse earlier than 10 days as I don't think I'll have the energy needed to keep track of the kids & start packing in earnest. Plus I'm not wanting to loose too much weight & it seems like it's going pretty fast. Might settle for 6 or 7 days, in time for the girls coming home from their camp.

The Cleanse Day 1 & 2 (Lemonade time)

Day 1: Today wasn't as hard as I expected. Frankly it might be the "morbid" factor of me but I was mighty curious about how the Salt water flush (SWF) would go so I did it in the morning. Piece of cake....well....not really. Worst part is chugging a whole liter of salt water but now I know what they mean when they say drinking ocean water will make you sick. :) Any one living near the beach want a clean digestive tract you know where to go.

Most trying moments...dealing with left over food & feeding the little guys. I have come to realize I am the human garbage disposal any food that needs to be taken care of automatically ends up being eaten by me.

Day 2: I feel like the impulsive "hunger" is leaving though I can't believe how distinct each food's aroma is to me. One whiff & I can systematically categorize the memory of taste, texture & palette of that one piece of food. When I get through with this I know I'm going to savor each bite of food so much slower.

I'm starting to notice that I'm suffering from that syndrome that has no name but strikes me often when I'm preggo.....SPACE CASE BRAIN FREEZE -- I think it's called? Forgetting basic words has caused one too many incomplete incoherent sentences.

Physically, I feel OK but a bit slow & tired for sure. But I'm taking into account that I'm not drinking any coffee & home alone with 6 kids & trying to help my 3 oldest get ready for camp & staying over at friends -- what did I expect.

The Cleanse (Ease in Day 1 & 2)

So...the time has come....no better time than the present

I personally find it easier to just jump into things that are unpleasant & just get it over with. (Case in point: Poo diapers! Why let it simmer while you get up the guts...you know?)

Apparently, though it seems to be easier to sorta slide into giving your digestive system a break instead of doing that "last supper" routine where you gorge yourself on your favorite Jumbo cup lamen wash it down with a tall beer or two & your favorite crunch munchie snack from the 100Y store. Thus the term "ease in". Which frankly still gives me a bit of the heebies....but whatever.

In case you're into this sort of thing, a lurker, a faithful follower (bless your gullible hearts) or you naughties who simply wanna see me crack like a watermelon over this. I'll try to put up a little something about each day.

Ease in Day 1:

This was basically a vegan diet for a day, raw fruits & veggies. Not bad because I had a lot of variety due to DH's shopping the day before. Bad news was he happened to be feeling in the mood to bring home a load of snackies. I wonder how much of a problem it's going to be to see them in the cupboard everyday & a couple of chu-hi's in the fridge.

To be honest, I had a NASSSTY head ache nearly all day but since I'm pretty sure it's from not drinking any coffee I just ignored it all together. I deliberately made a massive salad & ate to my hearts content but making dinner wasn't as easy as easy as I thought it would be honestly. I'm in the habit of being very generous with the term "TESTING" the food. I think it could border on grazing. And when I'm spaced out my right hand doesn't seem to know that my left hand is about to pop a piece of dinner in my mouth.

Ease in Day 2:

Today I'm just drinking 3 l of orange/grapefruit juice & as much water as I want. It's actually quite interesting that I think I can already tell the difference between hunger in my stomach & craving in my soul. Unfortunately there seems to be more of the latter. But as long as my stomach is full it's not too bad. Being in the kitchen is actually not that bad since I make myself look at cooking pretty scientifically, each item of food is just an object needed to complete the process.

Thankfully I only had a hint of a headache today & feel a lot less hopeless feeling than yesterday. Tomorrow is Day 1 on the 'real deal' & I'm actually feeling quite positive about it.

That's it for now.....catch me if I don't shrivel up into a little lemon tomorrow! Ciao