An American Favorite: Shepard's Pie

This is another easy dish brought to you by improvising and experimenting. I just love this because it can last you a week if you cook enough and it's mighty delicious. It's a great hearty meal for cold nights like the one's we've been having recently, so if you're ever in the mood for some traditional American food that will warm up your night, try this!

Ingredients:
1.5 lbs ground beef
An assortment of vegetables of your choosing: (This is what I usually use but you can choose basically anything)
2 Cans of Corn
1 Bag Shredded Carrots
Finely Chopped onions
1 Can Beef Broth
4 Large Potatoes
5 Tablespoons of butter
Shredded Cheddar Cheese


Directions:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
1) Peel and boil the potatoes
2) While those are boiling, saute the onions in about 2 tablespoons of butter
3) Add  1/2 cup of shredded carrots and cook until tender
4) Add ground beef and cook until you see no more pink
6) Add the beef broth as needed to make sure that your mix is nice and moist
7) Season with salt and pepper. (Worchestershire sauce also adds a nice flavor if you have some available)
8) Place the mixture in a glass baking dish. Spread evenly.
Cover with one layer of corn and cover with cheddar cheese.
9) Mash the potatoes with the leftover butter and milk
10) Distribute the potatoes evenly over the meat mixture in the baking dish.
11) Sprinkle the Cheddar cheese over the top of the mashed potatoes (Should look evenly layered with meat, corn, cheese, potatoes, and more cheese)
12) Put baking dish in the oven


I don't really have a time frame for how long to leave it in the oven, but just bake it until you can see that the mashed potatoes are a little brown and boiling. Make sure you don't burn the cheddar cheese on top! It should be nice and melted.


Prep time: 20 Min
Cook Time: Approximately 15 Min

Left -1st layer of meat            Right - Finished Product. A little eaten :)

This dish is a little harder than my recipes, but trust me, you won't regret trying it! I'll post pictures soon.


Enjoy!

Confessions of a Pregnant Drama Queen

I've noticed that I haven't publicly talked about my pregnancy much or posted many pictures. I think it's about time that I share with you some of the many thoughts that have run through my mind these past 8 months in hopes that this will help me release some of those pre-baby jitters that have been keeping me up at night.

Have you ever sat down and talked to a pregnant woman for more than an hour? Well, who wants to do that right? Sometimes I feel like I need a psychiatrist just to help me sort out all my thoughts. On the outside, pregnancy looks like such a happy time and all people really see is your growing belly and newly glowing skin, but oh my gosh, there is so much more than that! Ever since I was a kid I always wondered what it was like to be pregnant. I was always so fascinated by the possibility of my body doing all those things that you see in movies and read about in books and now my turn is finally here! No words can describe the whirlwind of emotions that you feel throughout your pregnancy, and if your a natural worrier like me, then you're in for a treat.

So let's rewind back to June. 3 weeks after our Maui Honeymoon, I could not bear to  eat or even smell fish, which usually was one of my favorite dishes. I just figured that after eating so much of it in Hawaii, my body was done with it. You know how they say when you're pregnant, you'll just know? Well, the night we went out to an all you can eat Korean barbeque restaurant and the smell of the smoke made me gag, well, that's when I knew that something was up. Who gags at the smell of Korean bbq? Seriously! I called my sister who came over right away, pregnancy tests in hand, and giggling at the possibility that she might be getting a niece/nephew soon. After the first initial test which lightly revealed that second line, I felt a sense of denial and panic because all of it was just happening so fast. Those 2 line tests are never clear anyway, right? But when we came back to take the digital one which we scrambled to buy and it clearly read "PREGNANT", my whole life changed.

Anthony came home from work a couple hours later to find the positive tests sitting on our coffee table. "Babe.What's all this?" I stayed in the room holding my breath so that he could process what he just found in front of him. Then it hit him. Probably like a ton of bricks because he got up and started pacing back and forth, talking to himself. Saying what? Who knows! So finally, when I sat down and we actually got a chance to talk about it and get past all the "how did this happen" questions, we smiled and shared a reassuring hug that we were chosen by God to become parents at this exact moment in our lives. What a blessing! And now, let all the baby excitement begin!

10 Weeks

The first few months of pregnancy was just us adjusting to this new "challenge" in our life. We had just finished saving for a wedding, and now was the time to start putting money away again. No more expensive vacations or splurging at the malls. And that's when all these new worries started invading my mind. What if I miscarry? What if it was a false alarm? How many babies are in there? But when I saw that first image of our little "peanut" on the ultrasound screen, only 10 weeks old, and already having a strong heartbeat, all those worries melted away for a moment, only to come back about a week later when I started googling things and reading forums. Seriously, stay away from those things! They can really come back to haunt you.

8 Months down the road, I'd have to say that I've had a fairly easy pregnancy thus far. No morning sickness. No unusual health complications. No worrisome test results. And luckily for me, I've been pretty energetic and was quite motivated to continue working out in the early months. Not so much now in my third trimester since I've gained about 20 pounds now. But I'd definitely have to say that getting in shape before the wedding has really helped me out in preparing my body for pregnancy. I feel great most of the time. As for my hormones, I wouldn't say that my emotions are running TOO wild, but my fuse is much shorter now. Anthony has been very supportive and helpful, massaging me and picking up things that I drop. He has even picked up some of the slack with chores especially now that I'm feeling lazy nowadays. I'm trying to teach him how to cook so we'll still be able to eat once I'm out of commision but that's still a work in progress.

15 Weeks

As we reach this final stretch of the last 6 weeks, I've found that my pre-baby jitters are now starting to get the best of me: I get worried when I don't feel her kick. Every ache and pain could be a contraction..or could it? When will she finally be here? I want to see her face so badly! I just want to make sure she makes it out okay. I hope that she is healthy and beautiful. Will I be able to breastfeed? What will my delivery be like? What kind of parents are we going to be?
....Can someone say emotional overload? It gets hard to concentrate on other things. Maybe it's my maternal instinct kicking in? It's one of the coolest feelings when all the things I've been reading about in my baby books start happening to me. I waited and waited for my belly to finally "pop" and now, I just can't wait to get this extra weight out so that I can have a good night's rest without having to make a trip to the bathroom every 2 hours.  Work is getting harder and harder to wake up for, but I am officially on leave on December 23rd, and believe me, I am counting down the days!

30 Weeks - 3D Ultrasound

All I know is, I love her already. I love her deeply and I am so thankful that she is in there. After every feat in my life and every accomplishment, getting this far in my pregnancy with her still thriving is what I am proudest of so far. I am savoring the last few weeks that we will physically be together because before I know it, she won't be safe and warm in my womb anymore and I'll have other things to worry about. I never thought that the day would finally come when I'd be a mom, but let me tell you, it's been quite an interesting journey. The miracle of pregnancy and how your body changes proves that God does indeed exist. It is truly just amazing  how a person so far from what you think a mom is or should be all of a sudden transforms naturally into a nurturing, self-sacrificing human being all for the sake of the baby she has yet to meet. Now tell me, that can't all be hormones can it?

Easy, breezy, beautiful.....SPAGHETTI!

This is a very special spaghetti with meat sauce recipe that my dad taught me....He's been making it since we were kids and I love it! Everyone I make it for now loves it as well. You can try your own variations..but this is a very basic spaghetti recipe that is just as yummy as it is easy.


Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 large white Onion (Cut into strips)
1 tbsp Minced Garlic
1 LARGE jar of Spaghetti Sauce of your choice (I use Prego Fresh Mushroom in the 67 oz jar)
2 boxes of what or white spaghetti
Sugar (Optional)

Steps 1-3 Pictured Above

Directions:
-Sautee the garlic and onions in 1-2 tbsp of vegetable oil until light brown in a large pot.
-Add the ground beef, stirring constantly. Cook thoroughly. (Meaning you should find NO pink left if you sift through the meat!)
-Add the entire jar of spaghetti sauce and stir occassionally
-Bring to a simmer. (Be careful not to splatter!)
-Add sugar to taste and simmer again <--For all those Filipino spaghetti lovers
- Serve with cooked spaghetti pasta

I like to eat mine with whole wheat pasta..not just for the health benefits, but it's oh-so-flavorful as well. I highly encourage you to make the switch!

This takes about 20-30 minutes to make..perfect for a quick meal that will serve 4-6 people if you're having guests over or want to save some for later. I know that before the baby comes, I'm gonna make myself a pot of this to store in my fridge and heat up for myself because it's THAT easy...So, enjoy!!

Ode to my pre-pregnancy body

One of the hardest things for some women is accepting their new motherly bodies. I admit, I've been obsessing over the changes that have taken place over the last 7 months: Constantly looking in the mirror and inspecting every part of my body for that first sign of stretchmarks. Staring at myself in profile view thinking "Wow I'm getting huge!" And scrutinizing myself in pictures because my face is getting rounder. Will I ever look the same again? Is the body that I worked so hard for before my wedding lost forever? My likely, yes. I've come to accept the fact that my bodyframe and skin will never quite be the same and that no matter how hard I fight it, the change is inevitable. The only thing that comforts me is that I am sacrificing myself and my body to bring a baby into this world. My baby.  So with that in mind, I say goodbye to my former self and will happily let go of my stretchmark free stomach, breasts, and buns and trade them in for a body that has experienced the miracle of birth and nursing..No matter what it might look like.

Left: 17 Weeks Pregnant - Right: 30 Weeks Pregnant

During my first two trimesters, it was easy for me to take long walks and continue doing light exercise video routines, but this past month, it has been really difficult for me to remain standing for long periods of time because of the baby sitting on my sciatic nerve (my lower tailbone area). I hope I've prepared myself enough to be in good enough shape for a fairly "easy" labor, but I can only keep my fingers crossed that timing and luck are on my side! With the lack of exercise and the all the cravings I've been giving into (In N Out, WingStop, Ice cream!!), I see the pounds packing on faster and I feel guiltier and guiltier every day that I'm not giving my baby the proper nutrition and activity that she needs. I really have to try and stay focused on remaining fit and healthy, but it's so so hard! I just have to keep telling myself "Healthy Mama=Healthy Baby". Hopefully during my maternity leave, I'll have more time to walk before the sun goes down and will be bored enough to fit in more exercise videos.


I can only imagine what I will look like postpartum. Legs and butt a little more plump. Extra skin on my abdomen. Oh man. I hope I still have the time and determination to fight to remain healthy and fit. As soon as I am given the OK to start exercising again, I plan on getting active, baby in tow, and as in shape as possible before next summer (easier said than done!). I will document my weight loss journey in hopes that it will motivate me to have some kind of progress to share with everyone.


But until then, here's an ode to my pre-pregnancy body. You've been good to me but I'm trading you in for something....better. 

Me at our Honeymoon in Maui May 10, 2010

Easy Chicken with Mushroom Gravy Sauce

This is one of the quickest and easiest recipes that I know. I happened to stumble across this amazing dish one day when I was experimenting with my crock pot and we ended up loving it.
Here's what you'll need:

Ingredients:
1 lb of chicken pieces (Whatever part of the chicken you like. I like legs and breasts. With or without skin is up to you)
2 Cans of Cream of mushroom
1 Onion. (Cut into rings)

Throw everything into the crock pot before you leave for work and set it on low for 8 hours.
It'll be good to go when you get home! Add salt and pepper to taste.
Serve over mashed potatoes. (Homemade ones if you have time!)

So easy! Enjoy!