A New Routine

So, my plan is to start waking up early to go work, which means I will be blogging during nap times instead of late into the night. I know that I am already a slightly cantankerous individual...adding lack of sleep would make me pretty unbearable...not to mention an emotional mess.

Now, I don't just want to lose weight, I want to tone up as well. Last time I started a weight loss routine I did really well. I met my first goal weight, which was my pre-baby #2 weight. But then I got pregnant with baby #3...sounds about right, doesn't it?

I'm already starting out at a lower weight, so that's good, but I want to actually reach my other goals as well...which is ultimately get down to weight I was when I was at my thinnest. I'm only 5'2' but the smallest I have ever weighed was 124. I think I looked great at that weight and size, so the fact that all these other girls my height are smaller doesn't really bother me. However, I have a long long (long long) way to go.

<Insert picture of feet on scale showing starting weight>

But since I'm embarrassed about my weight, I am not actually taking that picture. You could be like my hunk, and guess a 5 pound excess.....

....

That being said, let's talk about biscuits and gravy (but not the ones that go together)! I was at TOTS and the pastor's wife showed us her recipe for biscuits. So I made them with today's roast (and asparagus).

First, the gravy:

Pour all the juices in your crock pot into a small sauce pan on the stove

Heat saucepan, so that the drippings begin boiling

Then take a water/cornstarch blend and slowly whisk it in until you reach your desired thickness. Please note: when your gravy cools, it will actually be a little thicker than when it is boiling.

You can barely make out my water line...I would say that this is 1/4 cup of water and I then added 3 tablespoons of cornstarch, or 1/8 cup, so that's pretty much a 1:2 ratio...the closer the ratio, the less water you have to add, which will help retain the flavor. You can also add some salt.

So now, on to the biscuits!

Ingredients:
-1 3/4 cup unbleached flour
-1/2 tsp baking POWDER
-1 tsp salt
-1/8 cup oil (vegetable)
-3/4 cup milk

I did not have milk, however, but I had instant milk and used it instead...I think this might have been the problem with my biscuits...my hunk-a-hunk-a-burnin-love said were more like scones, but he still liked them and went back for more.

First, take your dry ingredients

Then, mix them together in a bowl

Then create a well for your wet ingredients

This is the part I royally screwed up, because I used up the remainder of the milk for the kiddos this morning at breakfast...This was even after thinking I did not need milk for anything I was making for Sunday lunch. Luckily, I remembered I had instant non-fat milk...not so great, but an okay substitute in a pinch.

Add to your dry ingredients. The goal with biscuits (so I was told) is that you don't want to overdo your involvement with them. They require more of a gentle caress, rather than a full body massage. Mix them together a little, dump them out on a floured surface, and then knead a couple times. Pat out so they about 1/2 inch thick, then cut them out with a glass.

Place them on an ungreased sheet and place in a 450 degree pre-heated oven for 10-12 minutes.

These are AMAZING (even though mine were a little too dense.)

They were especially AMAZING with honey on them.

<My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to they taste: Proverbs 24:13>