The Instant Pot
I kept looking at the Instant Pot every time I would see it in the store. I wasn't sure if it was something that I would use long-term. To my surprise, I received one as a Christmas gift from my parents! The big reveal happen, and then I stared at it! OK, how do I use it, so I do what every one wanting to know how to use almost anything, I go on You Tube! Of course there are unboxing videos, leading you step by step.
Through some trial and definitely errors, I feel more confident using it. It's not like the old pressure cookers where you would have to wait for the actual pressure to slowly release in order for you to be able to open it up. There is a quick release option on top, in order to release the steam faster, for those running short on time. The digital timer will count everything down, and will keep the food warm until you shut it off.
I do experiment with different recipes that I find on the internet or in the cookbook that I have as well. The Instant Pot is a great time saver, especially on those nights (which during hockey season is almost every night) that you are rushing home from work, need to feed everyone dinner, to then rush out the door to get to the ice rink for practice. This is my life from August to April! So time saving is a must have for me! The best thing as well, for myself who forgets to take out the meat from the freezer in the morning, is you can put the frozen meat into the pot and cook it that way. I do allow for extra time due to the meat being frozen. I have only really tried frozen chicken breast and no other meat that was frozen. It's a little hard to cram a frozen pork loin that is one shape and the Instant Pot is another shape. That's not happening, lol!
You can definitely use a lot of different recipes with it. It can also be used for a crock pot or rice steamer. It does have a lot of options! The food is always tender and juicy! It's a way to get a nice, healthy meal in a short amount of time!
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Hockey Politics at its Best
Who says there isn't politics in ice hockey - no one! This is not our first rodeo of travel hockey, more like 6 years of travel hockey. Why can't things be simple anymore? After my son has been on a travel team all season long, had a great season with the team, and now the season has ended. We are now flipping the switch to tryout mode. Which clinics to partake in to prepare him for the upcoming tryouts.
We heard from someone, that his travel team he just played the season with has since formed a tournament team to play together, which is fine, however, the coach apparently formed this team without telling some of the kids, including my son, and did it behind their backs! I find something wrong with this. Not that there is a tournament team, just that it wasn't even offered to some kids, done behind their backs and in secret. They are not even given an opportunity to tryout or participate. The worse part about all of this is he is hand-picking his team for the upcoming season, and two of the kids that are on this tournament team and the upcoming team are board members'kids of the hockey club!
Why would you do something like this? How does this show what type of person and coach you are? The kids are suppose to be looking up to the coach as a role model. This to me is no role model for my son? This just shows me of what type of person I do not want him to follow, and shows me how dishonest of a person he is. He should be ashamed of himself, but sadly, he doesn't care of whose feelings he hurts, or who he doesn't include. He is forgetting one main thing, that these are still kids! He has fallen into the hockey club politics trap at it's best!!
We heard from someone, that his travel team he just played the season with has since formed a tournament team to play together, which is fine, however, the coach apparently formed this team without telling some of the kids, including my son, and did it behind their backs! I find something wrong with this. Not that there is a tournament team, just that it wasn't even offered to some kids, done behind their backs and in secret. They are not even given an opportunity to tryout or participate. The worse part about all of this is he is hand-picking his team for the upcoming season, and two of the kids that are on this tournament team and the upcoming team are board members'kids of the hockey club!
Why would you do something like this? How does this show what type of person and coach you are? The kids are suppose to be looking up to the coach as a role model. This to me is no role model for my son? This just shows me of what type of person I do not want him to follow, and shows me how dishonest of a person he is. He should be ashamed of himself, but sadly, he doesn't care of whose feelings he hurts, or who he doesn't include. He is forgetting one main thing, that these are still kids! He has fallen into the hockey club politics trap at it's best!!
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Homework Saga
Is it too much to ask if we can just get through homework without a fight? Literally...Justin is doing homework at the table, Nicholas sits down next to him, I turn my back for two seconds and they are hitting each other? Justin claims Nicholas spilled his milk, then just got mad and punched Nicholas. Nicholas said, Justin turned around fast with his cup in his hand and proceeded to spill his milk on his own, and Nicholas hit Justin back because Justin hit Nicholas. OK!
After breaking up this conflict...
Gavin arrives, I get him to the table to join Nicholas who is stil doing homework. Nicholas gets upset because Gavin is sitting on his books. Nicholas starts making faces at Gavin. Gavin starts yelling at Nicholas and they are going back and forth yelling at each other.
At this point, I have branched into a full blown headache! And the only Autistic child, where is he, up in his room, doing his homework quietly and without a fight!
Until tomorrow...
After breaking up this conflict...
Gavin arrives, I get him to the table to join Nicholas who is stil doing homework. Nicholas gets upset because Gavin is sitting on his books. Nicholas starts making faces at Gavin. Gavin starts yelling at Nicholas and they are going back and forth yelling at each other.
At this point, I have branched into a full blown headache! And the only Autistic child, where is he, up in his room, doing his homework quietly and without a fight!
Until tomorrow...
Monday, September 30, 2013
Jack is our new distraction
It's hard enough to get four kids to do their homework in a timely manner, but having a new kitten does not help it alone. By the time Gavin gets home, his adhd meds have worn off and he is in no mood to sit and do homework from two different teachers. I have had extreme difficulties with him last year with homework. His LLD teacher, Ms Norby, came up with a great plan. She made up a "homework" plan to get Gavin to do his homework. Kind of like, three strikes and your out, 3 is great you completed it without a complaint or tear, 2 you did a little complaining and whining but we got it done, 1 is not good, you screamed, cried, threw a fit and outright refused to do anything. The consequence was the next day you had to do your homework with Ms. Norby at recess and also do extra work. Well needless to say, this happen one time and one time only last year, and he moved forward, brushed away the bad day and moving forward was pretty good.
Moving to the new school year, in a new class setting (not LLD), in a regular class and getting pulled out into an LLD class, results in homework from two different teachers. I have had a few issues already, he says it's too much, his hands hurt, he's tired, etc.... I decide to break out the homework system from last year. Good idea! Not so much. I was told, by an 8 year old, that this homework system was from last year, he no longer had that teacher and I'm not allowed to follow it!! I said, I got permission to use it from his teacher and we would be using it!
Now to the distraction of our new kitten Jack. He's the cutest thing! However, this is the new fall back to not doing homework. I'll do my homework, but Jack missed me and he needs me to play with him. I'm sure Jack is fine for another half an hour while you finish your work! I give in to avoid a fight. Gavin and Nick play with Jack and now resume homework. Not a bad plan??
We'll see what tomorrow brings!
Moving to the new school year, in a new class setting (not LLD), in a regular class and getting pulled out into an LLD class, results in homework from two different teachers. I have had a few issues already, he says it's too much, his hands hurt, he's tired, etc.... I decide to break out the homework system from last year. Good idea! Not so much. I was told, by an 8 year old, that this homework system was from last year, he no longer had that teacher and I'm not allowed to follow it!! I said, I got permission to use it from his teacher and we would be using it!
Now to the distraction of our new kitten Jack. He's the cutest thing! However, this is the new fall back to not doing homework. I'll do my homework, but Jack missed me and he needs me to play with him. I'm sure Jack is fine for another half an hour while you finish your work! I give in to avoid a fight. Gavin and Nick play with Jack and now resume homework. Not a bad plan??
We'll see what tomorrow brings!
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Friday, September 20, 2013
My First 5K - The Color Run, NJ
I signed up for my first 5K run ever! It was The Color Run, where in various markers along the track volunteers toss a color in the air or on you as you are running through (yellow, pink, blue, green, etc...). It was loads of fun and I actually completed it without dropping on the side of the course. I completed it in 35 minutes. Nicholas (9) ran too which was his first race too. The nice thing about this race, not only is it fun, but there is no pressure for time, just to have fun!!!
Crock Pot Dinner
Since Super Storm Sandy crossed out lives back in Oct. 2012, our lives have been turned outside down. You don't realize things are gone and thrown out until you happen to need them.
Today, I felt like trying a different chicken dish, instead of my regular, plain 'ol grilled chicken. I looked into my recipe box, which was the only set of recipe cards that were able to be saved. Of course, there is every other chicken recipe, except the one I wanted to make! This recipe wasn't something you could get off the internet or a book, it was from a friend I worked with years ago, and I have lost touch with when she moved. So what do you do? You "wing it!" Now, those that know me, know i'm not a gourmet cook and especially not very good at winging a recipe together.
I start by memory, chicken (obviously), garlic (I think), I know there were either shallots or onions, so I use onion powder, salt and pepper, 1 tbsp of dijon mustard, some dry (kind of gross) white wine, lemon juice, a splash of lime juice (not sure why), a few red pepper flakes, and lastly parsley.
It definitely smelled great! I threw it all into the crock pot on low and let it simmer all day. The chicken is tender and the sauce, I have to say is pretty good! The kids even said it smelled really good! I'm proud of myself! :-)
I did jot down as I was tossing ingredients into the crock pot, so if it did turn out ok, I would have myself an actual recipe.
What to try tomorrow....?
Today, I felt like trying a different chicken dish, instead of my regular, plain 'ol grilled chicken. I looked into my recipe box, which was the only set of recipe cards that were able to be saved. Of course, there is every other chicken recipe, except the one I wanted to make! This recipe wasn't something you could get off the internet or a book, it was from a friend I worked with years ago, and I have lost touch with when she moved. So what do you do? You "wing it!" Now, those that know me, know i'm not a gourmet cook and especially not very good at winging a recipe together.
I start by memory, chicken (obviously), garlic (I think), I know there were either shallots or onions, so I use onion powder, salt and pepper, 1 tbsp of dijon mustard, some dry (kind of gross) white wine, lemon juice, a splash of lime juice (not sure why), a few red pepper flakes, and lastly parsley.
It definitely smelled great! I threw it all into the crock pot on low and let it simmer all day. The chicken is tender and the sauce, I have to say is pretty good! The kids even said it smelled really good! I'm proud of myself! :-)
I did jot down as I was tossing ingredients into the crock pot, so if it did turn out ok, I would have myself an actual recipe.
What to try tomorrow....?
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Job Searching is not always fun!
In all the years that I have been out of the actual "working world," I never realized how hard it is to find employment. Maybe it's the troubled economy, maybe it's the competitive job seekers? All I know is I have sent out each day at least 10 resumes, either via internet, faxing, emailing, posting. It's actually draining.
However, in my search, I am happy to say, I have finally come across two great opportunities! One is going back to what I have done for years, and that is my medical transcription profession. The other is something new for me, but very exciting, and that is being an official Disney vacation planner, amoung other great trips too. I'm looking forward to both opportunities! Plus, I am still doing what I enjoy doing, which is being a Personal Fitness Training and Creative memories consultant as well!
So much for all my kids going back to school and having free time! I guess that's just not me!
However, in my search, I am happy to say, I have finally come across two great opportunities! One is going back to what I have done for years, and that is my medical transcription profession. The other is something new for me, but very exciting, and that is being an official Disney vacation planner, amoung other great trips too. I'm looking forward to both opportunities! Plus, I am still doing what I enjoy doing, which is being a Personal Fitness Training and Creative memories consultant as well!
So much for all my kids going back to school and having free time! I guess that's just not me!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Me & Gavin Time
Gavin and I sat down on a Saturday afternoon and played his version of checkers. He loves to stack all the colors up the sides, he jumps your checker from all the way across the board, or he just stacks them up, but you're not allowed to move your checkers or touch any of his. You basically just sit there and let him control the board and laugh.
Fudgie The Whale
Well Brandon saw the T.V. commerical for Carvel and wanted to get a Fudgie the Whale cake for John for father's day. I ordered the cake weeks ahead of time. The night before father's day John and I were out running around and decided to stop into the Carvel store to pick up a few packages (I saw a few packages) of flying saucers for the kids. When John opened the freezer, what was right on top, his cake! Oh well! So much for surprises! He still loved it! I went back the next day with Brandon (& everyone else, including John) and picked up the cake!
Justin's Fifth Grade Graduation
It's hard to believe that Justin has graduated from fifth grade already. Where does the time go? Now onto middle school, which is a totally different world. I hope that he keeps the same friends, and makes some new ones too.
This are a few of his friends; Robert, Justin and David. He has known David since they were in kindergarten.
Justin and his Friends
Justin, Dillon, Michael John and Robert after the 5th grade graduation at Emma Havens.
Brandon After his award
Brandon was so happy that he received an award for thoughtful student in his class. He ran right up to me after the ceramony and wanted me to take his picture.
Character Award - Thoughtful Student
Brandon received a thoughtful student award. This was the assembly they had to honor the kids who received the awards. He was presented with a certificate and pin to wear. Go Brandon!
Justin - Dare Graduation
Justin took a course during school, taught by a police office, to teach the children about drugs and alcohol. This was their graduation from that program. They also received a t-shirt and mug.
Back at the House
Me, Brianne, Justin, Brandon, Nicholas and Gavin back at the house after the communion.
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