Okay, can I just say that my blog post title basically kicks ass! š
I decided to get a gag gift for Tony’s birthday last week. We had seen an infomercial for T-Pain’s microphone – you can sing into it, get beat box rhythms – here is what the microphone can do.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d0HJEO6JBg]
So Tony has been sending me love songs at work and leaving them on my voice mail. Here is the latest one on a day when I told him I was really busy.
I just saved it on my voicemail and it makes me laugh every time I hear it – thanks Tony! š
It’s still overcast/rainy/crappy outside, so I decided I wanted oatmeal. Now I know why I don’t eat this too often, I added a teaspoon of agave nectar, with 1 chopped apple, 1 tablespoon of raisins and a small packet of McDonald’s granola – it was just way too sweet. I missed my cheese. š Although I will say that it was filling and only 6 WW points for the whole bowl. I think I got the McDonald’s granola packets from my Mom that she got at the food pantry she volunteers at – if they don’t have enough for everybody, they can’t hand it out.
And since I am still working out of my pantry/fridge/freezer, I give you Irish Potato Soup with Honey Beer Bread. It’s rare if I don’t have chicken broth, potato and carrots on hand.
Irish Potato Soup (makes 4 servings, 246 calories, 12 fat, 25 carbs, 4 fiber and 9 protein = 6 WW points per serving = about 1.5 cups)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 pound Idaho potatoes, scrubbed and diced
- 2 large carrots, shredded (mine came to a generous cup)
- 32 ounce chicken broth (Dollar Tree sells 32 ounce boxes of chicken broth and beef broth for $1 – nice!)
- 1 teaspoon salt (I used bacon salt)
- 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
Melt butter in stock pot. Add carrots and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often. Add in flour and cook for 1 minute. Add remaining ingredients and cook over medium-low heat for 25 minutes or until the vegetables are cooked through.
I used my potato masher because I wanted a chunkier soup – feel free to stick blend for a smooth soup.
Honey Beer Bread (makes 12 servings, 146 calories, 2.2 fat, 26 carbs, 1.2 fiber and 3.3 protein = 4 WW points).
- 3 cups flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 bottle of light beer
- 2 tablespoons of melted butter (may leave this out next time)
Mix the dry ingredients together. Add beer and honey and mix just until the mixture is combined. Pour 1 tablespoon of butter in the bottom of your bread dish, and then add bread dough, then finish off with the remaining butter. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes (I used a glass dish, so it may take longer in a different pan).
I actually liked the extra texture of leaving the potato skins on. This one will be a repeat for sure, and the bread is super quick. š
I never worked out at lunch, it was pouring rain pretty much all day and when I thought it would let up, it would start up again. š
When I went to TJ’s over the weekend, I picked up this small oven roaster – love both the size and the price!
Before work I added sliced lemons, sea salt with rosemary and cracked pepper and wrapped it up. I asked Tony to heat the oven around 4:45 to 475 – bake it for 30 minutes, then reduce the heat to 375 and then I’d take over when I got home from work. It was cooked perfectly – starting out the first 30 minutes at a high temperature seals the skin and ensures that you will get a crispy skin (I gave my skin to the dog). š But keep an eye on it – you may have to cover it with foil half way through so the skin doesn’t burn. Um, and please ignore the random shit on my counter. Thanks.
On the side I had smashed potatoes and sauteed zucchini – again, another comforting dinner that doesn’t break the WW points bank. This plate comes in at 9 points.
Loved reading about who inspires you to cook on yesterday’s post! Thanks for sharing your memories with me!
Stats for Tuesday
- 29]points (I added 4 points of tasting my soup I made after dinner last night)
- no exercise
- average blood sugar 151 (thanks carby breakfast!) š
Tonight is hanging with Hannah – we are going to go see My Idiot Brother. š Make it a great day!
Come back tomorrow with Mexican Chicken Noodle Soup using the leftover noodles from the beef stroganoff, chicken from the roast last night and leftover marinara sauce – sounds weird, but this just might be my new favorite soup. š
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That message from Tony is the best! That is so funny! And I love beer bread! (how could I not?!)
If you don’t like sweet oatmeal, maybe don’t add the agave? Or choose to cook/serve it with berries like raspberries which aren’t as sweet as say, raisins or apples. Or make carrot cake or zucchini bread inspired oats!
My favorite part of the post: a;lsdjfal;skdj
And I wonder if Cher is jealous of T-Pain? He gets all the credit for autotuning when she’s the one that used it first.
I always have to type asldjfasldjfaow because for some reason, if I upload a picture and don’t have any type below, I can’t get my cursor there. That’s how computer literate I am! š So I will leave it.
I will 2nd the covering of the chicken. I bought a fresh and organic chicken at the farmers market and cooked a whole chicken for the first time…and yeah it was black. The meat was awesome but it was black and a little dry. There’s a first for everything.
I can’t stop cracking up over Tony’s message – Love him!
Soup looks amazing!!!
I played that tpain bit for my son and now he wants one! So funny! Tony is a blast. I will be in Chicago in 2 weeks, so I would love to get out and see you, even if it is for only a little time. I’ll email you and see if we can pull this off.
That would be awesome! Off to send you an email! š
I haven’t made beer bread since last year…need to do this again stat!
I saw that microphone in the store a few weeks ago, and tried to talk my nephew into wanting it! haha I thought it was hilarious! he didn’t bite though! š How funny you got it for Tony! lol
You totally inspired me to make beer bread to go with my veggie soup for tonight’s dinner…I think you would approve, as I added jalapenos and cheddar…I used an old recipe I had…but it is very similar to yours!
Holla on the jalapenos! š If I made that loaf of bread in my house, I would be the only one eating it. š
OMG Beth, I can’t believe you still have some of those granola packets! I got them from my boss (I retired three years ago!) whose husband worked for General Mills – McDonald’s was his account. And they’re still fresh?? Hmmm… wonder what kind of preservatives they use….
Love, your Mamma
Hi Momma! I totally forgot that’s how I got them – too funny! Yep, they were still fresh and crunchy. š Love you!
Holy yum! Biz I get so much cooking inspiration from your blog and seeing what you are whipping up in the kitchen. The variety is endless. I love making beer bread and usually keep some of the non alcoholic beers on hand to bake with -that way hubby doesn’t drink them when I am not looking! I make one that uses whole wheat flour -yum!
Thanks for the link to your chicken tika masala recipe I printed it off and it’s in my to try pile! It looks like a great WW PP value too. I don’t have the Sriracha chili sauce on hand so need to look for that although it only calls for 1/4 tsp so can I get by with out it?
We saw that movie and thought it was great – of course, Paul Rudd runs a close second to Will Ferrell in my book, so take that as you will. š
Guess what? It’s no longer playing at our local theater. š But then I realized my eye brows need to be threaded so I guess we’ll do that, and if we happen to drive by Yumz, it is a complete coincidence. š
I love Tony’s love song. He reminds me of my hubby, always making me laugh.
Your titles ALWAYS kick ass Vat!! š I think I may be getting a cold, please send a vat (not yourself, though you are welcome to visit anytime! š ) of that soup my way!!! Have a great day!!
OK, that microphone is da bomb! I think I need to get that for my hubs–he would go crazy on it. I think he’d even insist on bringing it to church and leading us in song through it!! bwahahahaha! Love Tony’s sweet, silly song he made you. Have fun with Hannah today!
Ahh, Tony is sooo hilarious! I love potato soup; will have to see if my Dollar Tree has the broths…
I just sat here in TOTAL FUCKING AMAZEMENT at this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How did I not know this existed!!!?? I love it!!!
Also, Tony’s song ROCKS– did I hear a Louisa May Alcott in there?? haha
Kind of . . . it’s just a laundry list of names he calls me:
Biz, Biz Ann Mae Alcott, Bazey Mae, etc. š He so crazy!
Hehe – T Pain is awesome. We laugh at his voice all the time!
Have a great day, Biz!!!!!!
I just threatened Ryan’s life a little. My Birthday is coming up and I told him I better have one of those mics with my name on it. You don’t even want to know what will happen to him if I can’t sing him songs all the live long day. I mean bidness!
Oh my gosh – that’s hilarious! And seriously, Tony sounds good! I might have to get that as a gag gift for someone soon!
I just heard on the news this morning that it has been raining for almost 5 straight days out in your area. I feel for you! My fear of missing exercise later in the day is the reason I haul my too big butt out of bed early in the morning. That seems to be the only time that nothing interferes!
Yep, its been rainy and chilly – but it’s supposed to dry out for the weekend! š
I’m going to take (and appreciate) this post as a word of warning. LOL Why is it that all the gag gifts we give them turn out to be things they love to torment us with? š I just know that Best SonInLawEVER would LOVE one of these.
I’m going to try that soup! It looks delicious!
Tony’s message is great and that microphone is hysterical. Thank you so much for making my day. I’m laughing as hard as I can with a broken rib. I so have to get that microphone for my son.
Hope you had a fun night out.
LOLOL I love Tony’s message. I should get this for Bobby š
A day late – I have a lot of cooking inspiration but I would probably have to say that today I’m gonna go with my Grandma because I’m thinking of her. She was the one who taught me to add oatmeal to meatloaf, that creamed corn + mashed potatoes are an awesome pair, and how to make ham bbq in a crockpot. Her cooking was always so American. I miss her.
Haha!!! Tony is so funny! He’s a keeper, Biz š
Love all your eats today! I’ll have to try that potato soup!
oh my gosh- that sound bite of Tony is hilarious. Love the mic. I’m more of a savory than sweet girl too! Love that Tony helps with meals. Dinner looks perfect. Have fun hanging with Hannah…I will be umm kicking it with Kaylin?
Tony is the best!!
That soup and chicken look awesome š
This is going to sound so weird, but my grandmother taught me to make potato soup and it is basically milk, peeled/chunked potatoes, butter, Creamora [don’t laugh] and salt and pepper.
DANG – it is so good. I think you could replace the Creamora [you know the dry powder you put in coffee?] with cream, but I never have because I always have that stuff on hand. And as I said – it is really good, rich and creamy. In fact, I think it is what’s for dinner.
I can’t believe how cheap you got that chicken and thanks for the heads up on the Dollar Tree broths. I didn’t know that.
Hey! Have you ever stuffed a chicken with oranges and limes, roasted it and reduced the juices with red wine for a lovely sauce. It is amazing!
Skippy, never would have thought of cremora in soup – brilliant! And that wine/citrus sauce sounds amazing – I’ll have to try that next time.
When I was reading those “Culinary Mysteries” the recipes for a few books were while she was on a diet. She always suggested using non-fat dairy creamer in soups. I guess it gives them a lot of creaminess without watering them down, and without fat! Now I really do need to try it after reading this!
Hope you have a great day, Biz!