I don't feel bad

I have been feeling incredibly guilty for the past few months because, in my mind, I haven't made any sewing products or painting or drawing or crafts or anything.  But then I popped by the beloved Stacey's blog and saw this image which she found on Etsy:

Etsy shop


Then I realized I *AM* making stuff and being creative.  It's just in the kitchen. :)  I rarely follow a recipe exactly as is because I've been cooking long enough and know my taste buds well enough to know what I might need to change.  Or, in those few times I do follow something exactly as is, I make notes as to how I will change it the next time I make it.

And, let me tell you, I am obsessed with (or is it addicted to?) making new recipes right now.  I'm still horrible about taking pics but I did manage to get a couple over the weekend. :)

On Friday, after we went grocery shopping, I made a warm spinach salad with bacon dressing and homemade "Shake-n-Bake" chicken.  The coating is just something I threw together a month ago but I can't remember what I put in it and didn't write it down.  LOL  I doubled the dressing on the salad and am glad I did!  I omitted the egg and added the tomatoes for a burst of freshness to contrast the other flavors.

On Sunday, I did a crock pot whole chicken again and made with it gingered carrots, steamed pea pods and oven fries.  I followed this recipe to a T and it's perfect just the way it is!  In fact, I will be reheating the leftovers in the oven tonight for with dinner. :)  The sauce on the chicken is the homemade BBQ sauce I posted not that long ago.

For breakfast, I had the yummy overnight oatmeal I posted at the same time as I posted the BBQ sauce but it has changed slightly since then.  I now add chia seeds and use a different cereal.  Chia seeds are unbelievably amazing!  Have you tried them yet?  They swell in liquid and take on the flavor of whatever they are in so you get these wonderful little bursts of flavor as you are eating.  And a little goes a long way, too.  I started adding just 1/2 tablespoon to my oatmeal and had to reduce the amount of oatmeal I was making because I couldn't finish it.

I also decided to get away from the granola as my crunch and found Simply Maize by Kashi instead.  If Frosted Flakes and Rice Krispies had a baby, I think this cereal would be their love child.

So this is the lastest version of the overnight oatmeal I have been doing:

• 1/3 cup rolled oats
• 1/3 cup Chobani non fat greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup skim milk
• 1/2 Tbsp (or 1.5 tsp) chia seeds
• 3-4 frozen strawberries
• 1/8-1/4 c. frozen blueberries

The next morning, right before I eat it, I top it with a small handful of the cereal.

I did try another fruit combination last week but I didn't care for it.  I used frozen peaches and raspberries.  I'll stick with my strawberries and blueberries for now. :)

This is Rustle's favorite spot to sleep when we are in the living room but he's just a tad too big for his ottoman now.  Like all the wires in the background?  Those belong to my resident geek (aka Hubbyman) and I couldn't tell you what exactly he has wired or where. :P