What to do with all that venison sausage....
I'm pretty sure there are other women out there that have a freezer full of venison sausage. In this part of the country, that Friday in November is anticipated by hunters as greatly as Christmas morning is to a child. This year, we only filled one tag, but still have quite a freezer full of meat. Completely bored out of my gourd with sausage and kraut, or sausage and potatoes, or sausage and more sausage, I found something else to do with it. After putting the ingredients into a recipe calculator, it came out to around 200-225 calories per cup, so a pretty healthy alternative to any cream based recipe, and by using Venison vs. kielbasa, you save some calories. The original recipe came from Epicurious, but here is my tweaked version:
Sausage and Leek Soup
Sausage and Leek Soup
yield
Makes 6 main-course servings
Ingredients
- 4 medium leeks (white and pale green parts only), halved lengthwise, then chopped
- 1 large carrot, finely chopped
- 1 celery rib, finely chopped
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
- 8 cups chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth (64 fluid ounces)
- 2 medium boiling potatoes
- 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ring Venison sausage
- 1/2 tsp dried marjoram
- White pepper to taste
Preparation
Wash leeks in a large bowl of cold water, then lift out and drain well in a colander.
Cook carrot and celery in 1/2 stick butter (Or olive oil) in a 4- to
5-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until
softened, about 3 minutes.
Add leeks and cook, stirring, until softened,
about 3 minutes. Add stock and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and
simmer, partially covered, 15 minutes.
While stock simmers, brown sausage in separate pan in a small amount of water, ensuring not to burn sausage. When browned, slice into thin rings. Also while stock simmers, peel potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
Melt remaining 1/2 stick butter (must use butter here) in a small heavy
saucepan over low heat, then add flour and cook roux, whisking, ~3
minutes. Remove from heat and add 2 cups simmering stock, whisking
vigorously (mixture will be thick), then whisk flour mixture into
remaining stock and return to a simmer, whisking.
Add potatoes, sliced sausage, and marjoram and simmer soup,
partially covered, until potatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Season
with salt and white pepper.
The Rekindling of Friendships
ChAoS in MOtiOn
The Rekindling of Friendships
This was the article I meant to
write for last week’s paper, but in true Chaos in Motion form, I was fixed to
the couch with a three year old in my lap for about 3 days as he fought fever
and chest congestion. On the
upside of it, I did get some amazing cuddles and “Wuv you’s” and the opportunity to see Disney Pixar’s
“Planes” movie… about 237 times.
So anyway…
“A year from now, you’ll be glad
you started today.” I have always loved this quote. It shifts my thinking from
looking towards a huge, seemingly impossible challenge, to looking back at an
achievement. Since this will be my 40th year on God’s great earth
(come July) I have some lofty goals for 2014. Therefore last night I decided to meet up with an old
friend. Afterwards I had that
feeling of “Why have I waited so long to do this??” My old friend and I go back to my mid twenties. Before
marriage, and before kids. I
always felt better after meeting my friend. Though my old friend sometimes
smells a bit funky, I don’t mind.
You see my friend is the gym.
Tuesday I joined the Valley City Rec Center, and I had not had a foot
inside a gym for over 4 years.
When the Good Doctor was in Iowa,
there were a few perks of residency, in addition to the 80 hour work weeks, and
getting to dine as a family in the soft glow of fluorescent lights in the
hospital cafeteria, there was the Hospital owned haunted rental in which we
lived that literally had no insulation.
But the best perk was a YMCA membership. The Y in Mason City was built only a few years before we
moved there and was a wonderful facility.
The best part of the facility, as decided by Residency spouses, was the
drop in day-care available. What
this actually translated to all of us was the opportunity to take a shower. In
peace. For as long as we
wanted. With no small eyeballs
watching us. The work out acquired
while there was a mere side benefit.
But since moving here, I hadn’t
joined a gym. For what reason?
None really that I can even think about.
I think I may have peeked into the rec shortly after moving here, and
thought…”meh….” And then I got
pregnant, and then had a baby, and then my memory fails me for the next year
after that… But sometime in the last few months, I heard that the Rec was open
24/7, which was a huge bonus for this night-owl, and I peeked in there when my
son was giving roller skating a shot, and I was hugely impressed.
Tuesday night I decided to meet up
with my old friend. Not that I have broken up with running, I just need
more. My body misses the burn that
only those Nautilus machines can yield.
I need to work different muscles in an environment that is not my
basement, where my children use the treadmill as monkey bars, while I am
running. It was like meeting up
with an old friend, talking and laughing until you are crying and then
realizing the hours have slipped by. Then wondering why you haven’t done this
sooner. Yup, that was what the
workout was like. I’ll spare you
the play by play, but an hour and a half had passed before I knew it, and I
felt like I was “me” again. I also
realized that my last remaining nerve that the Polar Vortex and housebound kids
had frayed to a pulpy rawness, had been somewhat mended.
I’ve decided that I will run the
Fargo Marathon’s Half Marathon again this year, should my left foot and heel
decide to behave. This will be the
Marathon’s 10th year, and my 6th running of Fargo. My
goal is it to be my fastest. I am
6 years older one more kid, and also heavier than my first run. I can’t change the age or the kid part,
but I am going to desperately try to change the weight part. I am not going to address weight much
in these pieces, because I believe scales are just numbers, and I would rather
be healthy, fit and heavy, than rail skinny and unable to run after my
kids. The pounds on a scale also
are not always indicative of important things like resting heart rate,
cholesterol level and risk of heart disease. In fact the more I have run, the heavier I have become. So
while the 25 year old me was lighter, the 39 year old me ran 26.2 miles. I will take health over “a low number”
any day. All that being said, all
my jeans have miraculously shrunk between November and January!
So I am going to go back to using
another old friend: the“My Fitness Pal” app on my smartphone. You can also utilize this tool on the
computer, if you don’t have a smart phone, but I find it extremely helpful to
consciously eat. It is very
simple. Basically you enter in what you want your daily allowance of calories
to be and then record what you eat.
(Note! It defaults to a ridiculously low number of calories for an
active person, like 1200 or something like that, so make sure you increase it!!
) If you have a smartphone, you simply scan the barcode of any packaged item
you eat, and it records it. You
also then enter any exercise you complete for the day. Making me conscious about what I am
choosing to put in my body, makes eating for the right reasons, and eating the
right kinds of foods a little easier
My 2014 has already started with a
rekindling of old “friendships.”
What are your goals for this year?
When you read this piece, it will be page one of a book called “2014”. 350 some pages later, what
adventures will have twisted and turned through the beautiful journey you call
life?
My Santa List
ChAoS in MOtiOn
My Santa List
Dear
Santa, I know I am a little late with my list this year, but really, does that
surprise you? This time of the year I am lucky if I remember to put on pants,
so I’ m happy to find a moment in the chaos to get this off to you. In no particular order, here is my wish
list for this year:
1. Could I get 8 more hours per day? I think that would be helpful. Ok, I
would even be grateful for 6 if you could manage that.
2. Socks.
I don’t mean running socks because I have oodles of those. I mean socks that
adult women are supposed to have, and somehow I have managed to get to almost
40 with about 3 pairs. What is up with that? Preferably in colors that don’t
stain when I step in the surprises my cats leaves me.
3. I
would love a clean car. I don’t mean the outside; that is rather pointless this
time of year. I’m talking about the inside. Currently the floor is covered with
3 shoes, 13 mittens (none of which match) wooden blocks, countless matchbox
cars, half eaten suckers, quite a bit of white dog hair, several art
masterpieces by my daughter, and only heaven knows what the 3rd row
seat contains, because no one over the age of 9 has laid eyes on that territory
in many months.
4. I
would really really appreciate if the dog would stop using her feet, legs, hips
and back as her personal chew toys, despite the half dozen rawhides and chewy
toys laying around the house. Not only would I appreciate it, I do believe in
the long run she would also appreciate it.
5. Laundry prophylactics. If this doesn’t exist I think your elves can invent it. It really needs to stop
reproducing. It is getting a bit
out of hands these days. If it
came with a bonus laundry elf that would be wonderful!
6. For my
3 year old to show ANY interest in using the potty like a big boy. If that isn’t feasible I would settle
for him not removing his socks and shoes the moment we walk through Leever’s
doors to grocery shop.
7. Maybe
once a month, that my children would approach me about 7:30pm and say, “Parents,
we are exhausted. We are going to turn in for the evening. Good night. Love
you!” Now I know that may be crazy
talk, but a girl can dream right? You are Santa after all!!
8. While
I appreciate her attempts to serenade me, I would really like if the kitten
would not choose 4am as her time to play piano. She also could use help with her chords, and her timing is a
bit off.
9. In
true Christmas spirit, I want for others too. Specifically I would like young
women to realize leggings are not pants. Let me clarify: Leggings with a long
tunic or sweater? Perfectly acceptable and stylish. Leggings with a short sweatshirt or shirt? Nope. They are
not pants. The only exceptions are if you are going to or from the gym, or are
out running miles. Jeans are
pants, slacks are pants, corduroys are pants. Leggings are not pants.
10. What
I want mostly though is that my friends and family know how much I love them
and how grateful I feel for them.
In my mind there is time enough to create something special for each one
of them, to show them how much they have meant to me this past year. In reality, some may be end up getting
a Groundhog Day gift…. That is why #1 would be greatly appreciated!
My Public Break Up
ChAoS in MOtiOn
My Public Break-Up
As I sit here by the fire, gazing out my window to
the vast blanket of frozen white that covers every recognizable surface,
sipping on my third cup of coffee, I find myself thinking of you. Fantasizing about you to be exact. My mind returns to you and our times
together despite the half decorated Christmas tree, the Christmas card that has
yet to be created and the “to do” list that stretches to Pingree. But I realize this behavior isn’t
healthy, this longing and wishing is not productive, so as this year winds down
to an end, it is probably time to end the farce that our relationship has
become, and so here it goes:
Dear
Sleep,
I am sorry
to tell you this, but it just isn't working. We have tried for over 9 years, really
we have, but its just not working. Please, don't be sad or take it personally,
it isn't you, it is me. I have met someone else, well, really three people. These relationships are just too
demanding and necessary for me to continue a relationship with you. Don't feel
bad, you are beautiful, satisfying and so many people are blessed to know you.
It just can't be with you and me. But believe me, I wish it could be. I will
confess to you, that although I am in these other relationships, I daydream
about getting in the car and driving to a hotel to meet you... to close the
blinds and just be with you for hours and hours. But, it just can't be. I will
never forget those Saturday mornings, just you and me. The lazy afternoons on the couch, under
a blanket when you embraced me and all was right with the world. And how could I ever forget on the
floating island, at the lake under the sun. Sleep, you did things to my body I
haven't felt in so long... we were so good for each other. But recently, you
have become as elusive as Sasquatch or good lutefisk… I hear of these things,
but have yet to witness them.
And
yet, there are times, I think maybe we can make it work. Maybe if I try hard
enough, I can find a place for you in my life. But then the stark reality of vomit, or the dog deciding to
eat greasy paper-towels or “I need 2 dozen treats by tomorrow” spoken at 9pm
hits me. Then like a ghostly apparition, you dissipate in front of me.
But go, go and share your beauty with others. Knowing you well, I suggest maybe you
could be happy with a single person, or one without children… or a
teenager. My hope is maybe someday we will meet
again. But until that day, I will catch glimpses of you around me, like your
romanticized versions in mattress commercials. I will remember
all the wonderful times we shared and will be glad that I once knew you and
called you mine.