WARNING!!!

Too much sugar-free chocolate=unhappy tummy. that is all.

Life, the Universe, and splenda

So my new "food plan" has taken me off sugar completely. This shall not be reason to mope! Hershey's has gifted us with sugar-free Special Dark, and all is right with the world again.

Many thanks to Hungry Girl (see me links) for her tireless efforts in finding food that is not only in the plan, but yummy too.

As for some of the foods being bland...well, do I work in an herb shop? YES I DO! (again, see linkies) So, I have an entire 200+ herbs to work with, I'll manage to come up with some yummalicious seasoning blends. Hmmm...how to make food and medicine one thing? Vinegar tinctures! Soon, my lovelies, soon...

DUUUUUHHH

Doorknob cozy pattern corrected...durrrrrrrrrrr....

Mac and Cheese a la Moonie

My mom's baked macaroni and cheese. The best in the world, but super-sadly NOT on my food plan anymore. SO I bring you:

Laughing Broccomac Alla Aya!
2 wedges laughing cow light original swiss
a few tb milk
mrs dash
melt cheese and milk in saucepan with a little mrs dash (I used Garlic&Herb) to make a cheesy sauce. Pour cheesy sauce over some cooked noodles and steamed broccoli. Toss thoroughly to coat.
Yum!

Hmm...might also be good with a little more protein, chicken or tofu comes to mind!

Crocheted Childproof Doorknob Cozy

I know that there was a pattern for one of these online once upon a time, but now that I needed it... it was no where to be found. So, being a resourceful gal, I made sh!t up!
Childproof Doorknob Cozy Pattern Copyright 2007 Moonieance: Please don't sell the pattern. Please ask and stuff if you want to post it somewhere, and tell the folks there where you got it. That's just common courtesy!

This was an I hook and some sugar n' cream worsted cotton I had laying around. Doesn't use much yarn!
Also...I crochet pretty tightly. if you work loose, best decrease the hook!

rnd 1: ch 4, 9dc in 4th ch from hook, join
rnd 2: ch 3, 2 dc in each dc around, join
rnd 3: ch 4, 1 dc in same sp as join (1st v-st made), *ch 1, sk 1 st, v-st* around, join to 3rd chain of beg ch 4
rnd 4: dc in ea ch-1 sp around(including the v-st chains)
rnd 5: dc in each dc around, break off
Chain, I dunno, enough to weave between the dc's in rnd 5 and have some to tie...maybe 6-7 inches. Fit cozy over knob, tie.
Big hands can grip the knob or use the v-st holes to turn it, little hands just make it spin and spin and spin and spin.....
Thoroughly tested on 2 year old nephew AND 63 year old arthritic father. Father can open door just fine, nephew can't. I give me a A+!!

1a Stuff to Say

OMG you're not either! Again??!!
-to friend who be working on child #5

F*^& that! I'll crochet one!
-regarding anti-child doorknob covers costing $9.99 for two

Ooo...I might spend yarn budget on film for that...
-regarding nifty panoramic camera that hubberooni picked up free

ass in a craphat
-cuz it's fun to say!

Begin the Beguine

So here we are, issue no. 1 of Lifestyles of the Poor and Paranoid!

Yeah, so...where to start? "A beginning is a very delicate..." Nah, it's been done. "Call me..." No, please!

At any rate, here shall be recipes, crafts, pictures, ideas, thoughts, musings. And soup. I love soup. Soup is cheap, soup is filling, soup is nutritious.

How bout we just start with a recipe?

Salsa Soup

Yummy, cheap, and fairly good for you!

This soup is good for any cooked meat, except ham or pork. Pig just tastes wrong! You could also use leftover chicken and make this instead of say, pot pie or chicken salad, etc. I've had a friend make it with tofu and vegetable broth, and it was delicious that way, too!

1-2 cups of cooked meat, cubed or cubed protein of your choice

1 can broth+1/2 can water

1 jar salsa. small jar, you know, regular size. not the giant ones.

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup frozen corn or one can of corn, drained

goodies of your choice: olives, pimientos, etc.

about 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa or 1/2 tsp grated mexican chocolate (unsweetened)

cumin, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, and the hotness of your choice.
this is especially good with Ancho pepper powder, or chocolate chipotle sauce.

Cook about 30 minutes, or until everything is hot, and has had a chance to blend.

you can add rice to this soup if you want, but it's really tasty with tortilla chips!