Homemade Tortilla Chips

 Have you ever made your own tortilla chips?  They're actually so easy to make and so good!

Fresh tortilla chips resting on paper towels.

All you need is some kind of oil for deep frying...I use beef tallow...and corn tortillas.  After that you'll need a candy thermometer, a pan, and something to get the hot chips out of the hot oil.  (If you have a deep fryer, that is even that much easier.)

Pulling a batch of tortilla chips out of the oil.

Cut your tortilla chips into six pieces (like a small pizza).  Then heat the oil in the pan to the "deep fry" temperature on your candy thermometer and put some tortilla pieces into the oil.  Then you let the pieces cook to the desired color and pull them out of the oil, and let them rest on something that will absorb the grease like some paper towels or a brown paper bag.  Salt and eat!  That's it!  So easy and so good!

(If you use beef tallow, you can reuse the melted tallow--just let it cool a bit and put it in a glass container and store in the refrigerator until the next time!)

Love Where You Are Right Now

 One of the greatest lessons I've learned over the years is to figure out how to love where you are right now, even while acknowledging all of the imperfections in your life.  Look, I freely acknowledge that I am wired to be an optimist, but still, it takes practice to see the ways in which your life is good, even as you're wondering how you're going to pay your bills this month or worrying about the decisions your adult child is making or the bigger questions like, will you ever get out of your apartment and buy a house or should you make a career change.  (In case you're wondering, for us getting out of an apartment and into a house took a LONG time!)  Daily life can beat you down and loving where you are despite the pressure, is challenging at first.  It's a muscle you have to flex regularly, so you can default to looking for the positives in life when they're hidden under layers of burden and true concerns.

In my previous life, I had a boss who told me that she always asked herself, "If this is as good as it will get, how good can I make this?" And that question and the sentiment that arises out of it has stuck with me all of these years.  I have incorporated that way of thinking into everything I do.  This doesn't mean you're not striving to accomplish some big goals, but rather, that you look at your "right now" through a lense of appreciation and with your attention directed towards optimizing your current situation.  After years of living this way, I have come to believe that this recognition of the many ways our lives are currently good paves the way for us to see opportunity when it comes our way.  

Using our own life as an example. as I stated previously, it took Superman and me a long time to move from our apartment to a house.  We had already had two of our three children and we had been together almost ten years.  But that didn't mean I wasn't trying to make our apartment home as lovely and warm and welcoming and efficient for a family of four as possible.  I wasn't waiting until I "had a house" before I "made a home" for our family.  I also wasn't waiting until I could be a SAHM before I did these things.  Nope.  I was working long days with a brutal commute and I still felt fortunate.  I felt fortunate that we had an apartment that opened onto a grassy area for our boys to play, that we had apartment managers who looked out for us, that we had two bathrooms (seriously--so great!!) and two parking spaces.  There were so many lovely things about our apartment life and I look back upon that time with great fondness.  We weren't waiting for a house to start our real lives.  We were making the best of where we were then, even as we were working towards the next big thing.

Put another way:  If you're always looking to tomorrow to start your "good" life, you're never going to see the power you have to make the life you have now a good one.  You have to look around and be able to say, "I like 'this' about my life."   When you've acknowledged all of the aspects of your life that you DO like, then you can turn your attention to the things that you DON'T like from a perspective of opportunity.  You have to take a moment to stop and appreciate what you have accomplished thus far and really recognize those legitimate accomplishments.   Only then, will you be able to turn your attention to those aspects of your life that are next in line for action.   There will always be work to be done, improvements that can be made, and that is okay.  What's important is to balance that reality with appreciation for the moment you're in right now.

Look at this picture...isn't the sunset gorgeous?  If I'd stayed focused on the chore of shoveling the driveway yet again, I wouldn't have looked up and seen this gorgeous post-snow sky.  Of course, my photo doesn't do it justice, but trust me, it was stunning.  We're so lucky that the proposed construction in the field behind us continues to be delayed, keeping our view so beautiful.  (It's been proposed for the 17 years we've lived here...I'd say we've been more than lucky!!)  But look a little more closely.  Do you see it?  One of my dogs was so happy to be outside after the snow stopped, he had the zoomies and made an exuberant loop-the-loop pattern in the snow and circled the firepit chairs numerous times.  How can you do anything but smile when you see that manifestation of joy so clearly there?  Anyway, snow is forecast for the entire week and there is no doubt I'll soon be grumbling about shoveling that driveway AGAIN, but this beautiful moment reminded me of how much I love where I live.

Bottom Line:  That saying "life is what you "make" of it" doesn't just refer to what you're doing, it refers to what you're thinking about what you're doing and "life" is right now, not tomorrow.

Still Making This Old Favorite, but I've Updated It...

 

Still warm!!

When we found out we were gluten intolerant, the joy went out of cooking for quite a while.  Basically, everything I used to make for my family was wheat based and finding new options was much harder 12 years ago than it is now.  Fast forward 12 years and we're still not fans of most store-bought gluten free options, so we've really upped our baking skills to meet our new reality.  Still, there were a few of our favorites that happened to be naturally gluten-free and they have stayed in the rotation to this day.  One of these keepers is Amish Baked Oatmeal.  I first blogged about this recipe in 2010, and it is still in my rotation, so there is that!

Fresh out of the oven.

Since those first days, however, I've slightly modified the original recipe with the addition of another egg and a teaspoon of cinnamon.  This is the version of the recipe I use these days.

Amish Baked Oatmeal

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
1/3 cup packed brown sugar 
1/2 cup of milk (I've made it with water when I didn't have milk!)
1/4 cup of butter - melted
2 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Pinch of salt (I use 1/8 teaspoon)

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease an 8 x 8 pan.

2.  Mix all together in one bowl and then pour into your greased 8 x 8 pan.  

3.  Cover and place in refrigerator overnight (remove cover to bake) or leave uncovered and bake immediately for 30 minutes at 350F.  (If you leave the cover on when you bake it, it is too soggy.)

4.  Top with berries or eat plain (we like it straight out of the pan).

Honestly, this is a quick and easy addition to your breakfast or dessert rotation. (It's also really great for those afternoons where you just want something sweet, but don't want to each junk and you don't want to make a big mess.)   The 8 x 8 pan is a nice amount for a couple or for a small family.  Also, this is NOT an expensive treat to make, so if you're on a tight budget, this is definitely something to try.

Never quiet.

Superman and I have always had animals...even before we had kids, we had cats.  We got our first dog when Buttercup was three or four, and since then, we've always had dogs, too.  Throughout the years, we have also had birds, hamsters, rats, a chinchilla, and fish.  They have always added to the chaos and joy in our home and in our lives.

The past few years have been hard where our animals have been concerned, as well.  That was to be expected, if we had ever really thought about it:  the animals you get when your kids are little will be old when your kids leave the nest.   We didn't think about it, though, and the losses of the past few years made the transition to empty nesters even more bittersweet.  We've lost four animals in the past two years. It felt as if we were losing more of our family with each loss.

Beans went first in 2021.  She declined quickly and, while not a nice cat (hey, some just aren't nice), I was sad for her decline...she was only 12 and we had gotten her when she was six weeks old.  Wasn't she beautiful?

Majestic Beans 

Sam-I-Am passed in January of 2022.  He was our last link to our lives in So Cal.  He was born in the carport of our California home and moved with us the next year.  He was just shy of 18 when he died and he lived an amazing life and was cool until the very end.

Sam-I-Am was always irritated by us.

My sewing room cat Clementine disappeared in May 2022.  We suspect strongly she was taken by an owl.  My heart broke with this loss because she was just three years old and was the sweetest cat ever.  She was definitely my cat...this loss was brutal, to be honest.

My little Clementine--sweetest cat ever.

Finally, our beloved Lucy Lou died in July 2022.  She was almost 16 years old and was the most loyal girl ever.  She taught me to love dogs.   Fortunately, she declined quite quickly...she was still going for walks two weeks before she died...but man, this one was hard.  You know they can't live forever, but still...

Miss Lucy Lou

I know a lot of people decide not to get any more pets after the pets they had when their kids were younger pass, but I just couldn't see doing that, despite the fact that we were also dealing with our beloved Honey having terminal bladder cancer.  She has far surpassed her six month prognosis and, at 14 months post diagnosis, is still living her best life. The tumor is still growing, though, albeit slowly and we know her time with us is limited.  Animals are a source of joy and life in a home, in my humble opinion.

Honey - she has big dog energy and the sweetest girl ever.

So, in June, while my heart was still hurting over Clementine's loss and I was grappling with Honey's cancer, we rescued Leo-Leo.  He's a two and half year-old little mutt who was in an abuse situation and is getting braver by the day.

Leo-Leo--tries so hard to be a brave boy.

At the end of summer, we adopted Olive and Georgia, a bonded pair of female cats who are about three years old.  We needed cats...the mice in the yard were waving to me as they went about their day's work.  Really.  My daughter started referring to me as Snow While because there were so many bold critters in our backyard.!!  Anyway, between our combined efforts, Olive and I have mitigated the mouse problem quite effectively and there is peace in the kingdom again.

This is Olive...Georgia is very shy.

Finally, in November, we adopted Miss Emma, another rescue in need of a forever home.  She was a special case and needed a special home and we felt privileged to become her family.  She's a fierce little thing who is going to rule the entire house when she's done.

Miss Emma - a backyard breeder mom dumped in a shelter, this girl is stealing our hearts.

So, there you have it.  If you're keeping count, we have four dogs (including Jack--not pictured), two cats, two birds (with no names), and possibly two fish (we will know in spring how many survived in the little pond).   Housebreaking through a snowy winter has been quite an adventure, but it has been a small inconvenience when contrasted with the happiness these pets bring.  The joy our animals bring to our lives is worth the pain of losing them when their time comes.   Our home is not very quiet and is never boring, and I wouldn't have it any other way.  

Happy Birthday to Charming!!!

 I don't know how it's possible, but our first born is 32 today!  (Which really doesn't make a lot of sense, as I'm holding somewhere between 35 and 40 myself, soooo...) 

Happy Birthday, Charming!!!

This is from 1994...You were 3. 
Let's not talk about how long you've been running!!!

"Transitions are hard" or "Reflections upon coming out the other side"

As you might be aware, for a few years now, my family has been in transition.  Heck, you might even be bored of the topic, but man, it's a big transition to go from active parenting of younger children to hands-off parenting of adult children.  I've mentioned some of it in my very sporadic blog posts, but I didn't even scratch the surface.  The last of our children left the nest within six months of each other and both of them are now married.  Superman and I became grandparents when Buttercup and her husband had a little boy last summer.  Valiant and his wife live across the country and Charming is across the state.  Family togetherness, at least for now, is a distant memory.

On top of that, Superman and I decided we couldn't say no to an amazing career opportunity for him, so he's traveling again.  When I tell you the nest is empty, the nest is EMPTY.  And yet, Superman and I seem to be busier than ever.  We have grand plans for our empty nest life and are pursuing them with a single-minded focus and we have a renewed energy as we pursue our goals. 

Swedish death cleaning was a huge help to this transition.  I know I posted about the ins and outs of Swedish death cleaning before, but I can't stress enough how good this was for us.  Letting go of the life that "was" makes room for the life that "will be".  We aren't holding on to the past in a way that limits our ability to embrace the future.  It has been so liberating to shed the detritus of those years, only holding on to the things that have true meaning.  Of course, we did hold on to some things, but only things that have meaning to us and that we think might have meaning to our children.  For example, it is lovely to see our grandson in a crib that was used first for my brother, and then for our own children.  It has been so sweet to see him in a playpen that has been in our family for more than 50 years.  (Seriously, buying quality and being resistant to "new and improved" has served us well.)  

It was a lovely trip down memory lane and also a loving farewell when I scanned in all of our analog photos (so many photos in boxes...I thought they'd never end!) and then combined them with all of our digital photos and placed them on a thumb drive for the each of the kids.  This is their history to keep and maintain as they see fit.   I felt lighter and a little buoyant as I shipped off all of their belongings and then gifted them all these photos.  But it also really cemented a thought for me:  Memories are so personal.  All of those baby pictures that bring a smile of remembrance to your face are of a time that the subject of the photo doesn't even remember...those are YOUR memories, not theirs.   You can't really know what is a treasured memory or a treasured belonging for your adult child.  Anyway, I digress...this project is all done and handed off to the next generation and our home is now more reflective of the journey to come rather than looking back at the life that was.

I read a blurb somewhere that said the majority of your parenting will be done to adult children and that is the stage we're in.  I know it sounds as if we've washing our hands of our children, but that is far from the truth...we just truly respect that they are living their lives now and we have confidence in their ability to do just that.  We raised them well and they're all very competent, capable individuals in their own right. Our "job" is done and we've happily handed the reins to them and we are enjoying watching the paths they choose for themselves.  

So, there it is.  We've made it through the empty nest transition and come out the other side.  We feel energized and excited to see what the future holds, and I think this blog is going to come back to life now that I don't have to worry about infringing on teenagers' privacy. (That was a big consideration for me once they were of an age..,I didn't want post things that could potentially make them feel their privacy had been violated.)  Heck, I might even open it up to my adult children to contribute to because, it is, after all, the Nagle5 News and I no longer speak for all of the Nagle5.