"No" Is A Complete Sentence

As I sit here writing this, I have no idea if this will ever be published.  But I'm writing because it needs to come out.  Because I am strengthened and inspired by all the #beenrapedneverreported stories trending on Twitter right now, and because it has remained hidden in the shadows for too long.

Off We Go.....

Join us as we begin our journey to bring another Little Free Library to Grimsby!

Our Facebook page is up and running here - https://www.facebook.com/littlefreelibrarymovementgrimsby

Feel free to join us on this journey as we crowd fund, collect books, and engage our community in this amazing project.

Give our Facebook page a LIKE and a SHARE and help us make this dream a reality for our neighbourhood.

Happy Reading!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

The Little Free Library Movement

 So, in case you haven't noticed, I have become OBSESSED with the Little Free Library Movement since discovering there are 2 (that I know of) in Grimsby already.  They are beyond cute and the most basic, yet important, idea ever!

I Am Finally Home

I have to begin this post with a HUGE thank you to all of you who read my blog on a regular basis, and to those of you who are new here over the past little while.  The response to my last post entitled "My New Small-Town Life" has been nothing short of overwhelming.  It has been read (to date) more than 225 times, shared on Facebook pages and websites, and I even received a message from the woman who owns the Little Free Library that I raved about!  Talk about a small world!  

My New Small-Town Life

For 3o of the past 40 years of my life, I lived in what I deemed to be a medium-sized city.  Burlington, Ontario - current population 285, 000.  We had everything we needed right there - a great hospital, waterfront trails and beaches, annual music festivals, Canada's Largest RibFest!  Did I mention RibFest? ;)  And because I had lived there for 30 years Burlington grew along with me, so it never felt big to me.  I could get around it with my eyes closed, knew where obscure little side streets were when people mentioned them, and could do that whole "jeez remember when the Go Station was a corn field?" thing, that proves you have grown right along with your city.

And then, 4 months ago, we made the decision to uproot ourselves from that safety zone (my 12 year old son has never lived anywhere else) and move to Grimsby - population 25, 200. Blending households with a significant other in your 40s inevitably means one party makes the sacrifice of moving to the other party's comfort zone.  We were willing to make that sacrifice.

The Power of a Positive Environment

Between February and June of this year it was proven to us, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what kind of extreme power lies in a positive school environment.

More Gluten-Free Hits & Misses

Hello GF peeps, and Happy Wednesday!  Time for another addition of Gluten-Free Hits & Misses, as we continue to try new things every day on our gluten-free journey.  So off we go......

Anxiety Has Opened My Eyes, Mom....

Many, many times in my 12+ years as a mother, I have been stunned speechless by the wisdom of my son.  Usually with statements far beyond his 12 years.  Last night was another such time.

This story http://www.cbsnews.com/news/darpa-program-to-develop-brain-implants-for-mental-disorders/ came on the news and gave us pause for discussion.

The Results Are In!

Well folks, the results are in!  Our family doctor called yesterday with the results of my son's abdominal ultrasound and blood work.  It is essentially good news but still leaves a lot of questions regarding what he can and cannot eat.

Gluten-Free Hits & Misses - Weekend Edition

 Happy Weekend GF peeps!  And Happy Memorial Day Weekend to my friends south of the border!  For us, this weekend will be spent continuing to pack for our move in August.  Although we are excited about the move, this whole packing and purging deal sucks!  I'm just sayin'......

Anyway, in an effort to delay that fun-filled job for as long as possible (just being honest!) I thought I'd share a few more Hits & Misses that we discovered this past week.

Getting To the Bottom Of Things....

I am happy to report that my kitchen, fridge, and pantry are now approximately 50% gluten-free.  As my son is the only one who NEEDS to be gluten-free, I find we are slowly paring down on the "old" food and replacing it with the GF variety.

Gluten Free - 2 Hits & 2 Misses

 Good morning everyone!  And a warm hello to all of our new followers.  Udi's Gluten-Free was kind enough to direct many of you to my blog via their Twitter account and I am very thankful for the kind words and useful advice that has been coming our way.  As many of you know, we are only 2 weeks into this gluten-free journey and it is an adventure filled with trial and error.  So, as we try to figure out what my son likes, and inevitably doesn't like (!!) I thought I'd share some of those Hits & Misses here.

Gluten Free Hits & Misses - Volume 1

It has been 2 weeks today that my son has been gluten-free and our household has been gluten-reduced.  And as we continue on this journey we are discovering new products almost daily.  Many of which we have never eaten or tried before.  So I thought we would share some of our "Hits & Misses" in the gluten-free/healthier eating department as we go along.

Gluten-Free Journey - Week 1

The past 10 days have been interesting for us.  On the advice of our family doctor we have put my 12 year old son on a "gluten-reduced" diet.  A bit of history:

My son has had a diagnosed Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) since the age of 5.  I'm sure there will be many blog posts to come about our experiences dealing with that issue and the things that worked (and didn't!) for us.  But this is about the gluten.  

The Lazy Gourmet Mutts

My 12-year-old son is currently working on a school project for his IT class, where he has to create a slideshow of pictures, all of people, places, or things that are special to him or that he enjoys.  So far he has photos of the dogs, his Pokemon cards, and some X-Box games. These are the "important" things in the life of a 12-year-old.  I am hoping a photo of his mother will rate at some point. *wink* 

So this project of his got me thinking about the thousands upon thousands of pictures I have taken over the years, and I thought I would share a few with you on this chilly Saturday morning in May.  And by the way, Mother Nature, what up?!?!  It is not supposed to BE chilly in May! 

The Surprising Gifts Relaxation Will Bring You

Recently, my husband and I drove 3 hours north for a peaceful 4-day vacation, free of children, dogs, and technology.  It was heavenly!

OK, let me address what you are all now thinking.  Husband?!  Say what?!  When did THAT happen?  Well, it didn't.  But it did.

The Lost Art of Kindness

My grandmother taught me this the minute I could talk.  I can still hear her voice telling me to treat others the way I want to be treated.  In fact, this pillow looks like something she would have made and had in her home.

"If you don't have anything nice to say.....don't say anything at all."

"Treat others the way you wish to be treated."

OK So I Have Clarity.......Now What?!

Clarity is a wonderful thing.  And it took me 40 years to get it!  Clearly I am a slow learner!  But here's the thing about clarity.....now that I have it, I don't know what to do with it.

As I sit here on this rainy Monday, sipping tea and listening to the dogs snore on their beds, I have a very clear picture of how I got to where I am.  How I became this person that I have become.  The way I was raised.  The choices I've made.  The inevitable mistakes I've made. (sometimes more than once, just to be sure)  

I Am Enough!

Why is it that such a simple statement - "I am enough" - is so difficult to digest?  Why is it that even though we KNOW this to be true, we still crave the attention and the validation of those around us?

Why, at 40 years old, do we still wish for the day our parents will respect us as an adult?  Our choices, our opinions, our mistakes and our triumphs.  When will they be enough?  And if they are never enough, why do we care? 

Exactly How Long Is This Gonna Take?!

Getting your thoughts down on paper (or screen, as the case may be) is therapeutic, as I'm coming to learn.  But sometimes, as some things become clearer, others become a little more muddy.

So I'm sitting in a bit of mud right now.  Having learned over the past year or so, that I no longer want any part of one way friendships and relationships, I have the gained the backbone and the self-respect I need to ensure I teach people how to treat me.  And twice this past week I had the opportunity to do just that.

Less Than.....

Oh how I know this to be true!  I referenced in my last post a quote by Dr. Phil - "You teach people how to treat you" and I believe this to be true.  Sadly, I was close to 40 before I realized I had collected a lifetime of people who I was allowing to treat me as "less than."

Yeah, that's right.  Less than!  

Friendship - The Two-Way Street That Wasn't

This quote, sent to me by a dear friend last week, rings so true for me lately.  She sent it to me after a long discussion about friendships and family relationships, and how they grow and change as we get older.

Wait, maybe I need to re-phrase that.  Not necessarily how friendships/relationships grow and change, but how our views of those relationships change with the wisdom of age and experience.  

New Look - New Goals :)

New Look - New Goals!

Welcome back to The Lazy Gourmet Blog.  And Happy Spring!!

I hope you will enjoy our new look and our updated mission.  Yes, I will keep the quick and easy recipes coming, cuz we all have to eat you know!  

But, as I enter this Spring having recently turned 40, I suddenly have a lot of clarity about not only what I want for my life and who I want (and don't want) in it, but also the lessons my life has taught me are becoming clearer.  Things I thought were just bumps in the road or heartaches along the way, have taught me so much about myself and have made me into the person I am today. 

Tuna & Pasta Cheddar Casserole

Tuna & Pasta Cheddar Casserole

I have had a request for a quick and easy tuna casserole.  Although personally not a fan of tuna, I have made this one before and I have to admit that even this non-tuna fan enjoyed it!  Must have been the cheese! *wink*

Ingredients

- 3 cups uncooked rotini pasta
- 3 cups water
- 1 can condensed Cream of Mushroom soup
- 1 can solid white tuna in water, drained
- 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 3 tbsp Italian seasoned bread crumbs
- 1 tbsp melted butter or margarine

Directions

- preheat oven to 375F
- in large pot, boil pasta in 3 cups of water until just tender. DO NOT DRAIN
- add soup to pasta & water and stir well to combine
- pour pasts/soup mixture into 2 qt (2L) casserole dish
- gently stir in flaked tuna
- sprinkle with cheddar and parmesan cheese
- top with mixture of bread crumbs and melted butter
- bake at 375F for 20 minutes

*Serves 4.

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Chicken Caesar Pasta

Chicken Caesar Pasta

If you are a tomato-lover like me, then this is the perfect dinner that's ready in less than 30 minutes!

Ingredients

- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 lb (500 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
- 1 can condensed Cream of Celery Soup
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 cup Caesar salad dressing
- 4 cups hot cooked linguine
- 1 medium tomato, diced
- 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
- grated parmesan cheese

Directions

- heat oil at medium-high heat in large skillet
- add chicken and cook 10 minutes or until browned
- reduce heat to low
- stir in soup, water & salad dressing
- heat to a boil, stirring occasionally
- cover and cook over low heat until chicken is cooked through (approx 5 minutes)
- toss with cooked linguine and tomato
- sprinkle with pepper and parmesan before serving

*Serves 4

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Go Canada Go!!

Gold and Silver in Women's Moguls! Go Canada Go!

Au Gratin Potatoes

Au Gratin Potatoes

My friend Cathy sent me this recipe yesterday and swears it is the best potato recipe EVER!

Ingredients

- 4 large potatoes (Yukon Gold are recommended) thinly sliced
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp all purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, or any cheese blend you prefer
- large dollop of cream cheese
- salt & pepper to taste
*Optional: add fresh chopped thyme to the potatoes

Directions

- preheat oven to 400 F
- saute chopped onions until clear
- layer potatoes onto bottom of buttered casserole dish
- top with sauted onions
- add remainder of potatoes and season with salt & pepper
- in medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat
- mix in flour and stir constantly with a whisk
- stir in milk and simmer until milk bubbles
- stir in cream cheese and continue to simmer until melted
- add shredded cheese and continue to simmer until cheese is melted
- pour cheese sauce over potatoes & cover with aluminium foil
- bake for 90 minutes
- remove foil for last 15 minutes to allow top to brown

*Cool Tip - Cathy uses this same cheese sauce recipe for macaroni. Yum!

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

The Lazy Gourmet Mutts

Did you see the Lazy Gourmet mutts (Tango and Biscuit) on CBC NewsNow this morning?  They're famous!

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Savoury Chicken Stew

Savoury Chicken Stew

We made this earlier in the week and it was really good!  The leftovers were perfect for school lunches too.  Veggies can be substituted depending on your taste - we skipped the broccoli and added mushrooms and red peppers instead.

Ingredients

- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 can condensed Cream of Chicken & Broccoli soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 4 small red potatoes, cut into quarters (approx 2 1/2 cups)
- 2 medium carrots, sliced (approx 1 cup)
- 1 cup fresh broccoli florets *Quick Tip - we are not broccoli lovers in our house so we substituted mushrooms and red peppers. Any veggie you like will do!
- 1/8 tsp pepper

Directions

- in large skillet over medium-high heat, in hot oil, cook chicken until browned, stirring often
- remove chicken once cooked and set aside
- in same skillet, combine soup, milk, potatoes, pepper and veggies *Quick Tip - we used a large pot for this step as things were overflowing out of the skillet!
- heat mixture to a boil and reduce heat to low
- cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally
- add cooked chicken to stew mixture
- cover and cook an additional 5 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink & veggies are tender

*Makes 4 main-dish servings.

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Crock Pot Pizza Casserole

Crock Pot Pizza Casserole

This was submitted last night and sounds too good not to try!  I know this will be a hit with the 12 and under crowd in this house! :)

Ingredients

- 1 package (16 oz) wide egg noddles
- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef or turkey
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 1 jar (26 oz) spaghetti sauce
- 1 can ( 4 1/2 oz) sliced mushrooms, drained
- 1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 package (3 1/2 oz) sliced pepperoni
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- non-stick cooking spray

Directions

- cook noodles on stove top according to package directions
- meanwhile, in large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink
- drain fat from beef
- stir in spaghetti sauce, mushrooms and Italian seasoning
- drain noodles
- coat Crock Pot with non-stick cooking spray
- spread 1/3 of meat sauce on bottom of Crock Pot
- cover with 1/3 of noodles and pepperoni
- sprinkle with 1/3 of cheese
- repeat layers twice more
- cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours or until heated through and cheese is melted

*Makes 6 to 8 large servings

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Crock Pot Apple Crisp

Crock Pot Apple Crisp

Dessert in the Crock Pot?!?  Really?!?  Cool!  This sounds amazing!

Ingredients

- 8 medium tart apples, peeled and sliced
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 1/2 tsp grated lemon peel
- 2 1/2 cups granola with fruit and nuts
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup butter, melted

Directions

- in large bowl, toss apples, lemon juice and lemon peel
- transfer to a GREASED Crock Pot
- in separate bowl, combine granola, sugar & cinnamon
- sprinkle mixture over apples
- drizzle entire mixture with melted butter
- cover and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours or until apples are tender
- serve warm

*Makes 6 to 8 servings

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Creamy Stove-top Corn

Creamy Stove-top Corn

*A quick easy twist on our Creamy Crock Pot Corn.*

The Crock Pot version of this recipe is fabulous for serving a large group, but my son wanted the Creamy Corn this week and so I created this easy twist for serving just the 2 of us.  

Ingredients

- 1 can corn niblets
- 1 tbsp butter or margarine
- 1 tbsp cream cheese
- salt and pepper to taste

Directions

- in small pot on stove top, combine corn, butter, cream cheese, salt & pepper
- heat on low-medium heat, stirring occasionally to melt butter and cream cheese
- once butter & cream cheese is melted, cover and reduce heat to low until ready to serve

*Makes 2 to 3 side dish servings.  Recipe can be doubled for larger portions.

*Please refer to our Creamy Crock Pot Corn recipe if you are serving a larger group*

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

No-Fuss Mac & Cheese

No-Fuss Mac & Cheese

I just discovered this in my Campbell's soup recipe book (give credit where credit is due!) and am going to give it a try this weekend.  It looks SUPER cheesy!!!! And as you all know, cheese makes me happy :)

Ingredients

- 2 cans condensed Cream of Celery soup
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tsp prepared mustard
- 1/8 tsp pepper
- 6 cups hot cooked elbow macaroni (about 3 cups dry)
- 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 can French fried onions

Directions

- cook macaroni noodles first and set aside
- preheat oven to 400F
- in large bowl, combine soup, milk, mustard & pepper
- stir in COOKED macaroni and 3 cups of cheese (set 1 cup of cheese aside)
- spoon mixture into 3-quart oblong or square baking dish
- bake at 400F for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbling
- stir casserole
- sprinkle onions and remaining 1 cup of cheese over macaroni mixture
- bake 1 minute more or until onions are golden

*Serves 8

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Crock Pot Salsa Chicken

Crock Pot Salsa Chicken

Saw this posted on my friend Kathy's Facebook page this week and it looked too good not to share!  Going to give it a try later this week.  Yum!

Ingredients

- 2 lbs (32 oz) chicken breasts, boneless & skinless
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 cup diced canned tomatoes
- 2 tbsp taco seasoning
- 1 cup onion, finely diced
- 1/2 cup celery, finely diced
- 1/2 cup carrots, shredded
- 3 tbsp sour cream

Directions

- place chicken in Crock Pot & sprinkle taco seasoning over meat
- layer vegetables and salsa on top
- pour 1/2 cup water over entire mixture
- cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours
*Meat is cooked when it shreds easily or reaches internal temp of 165F
- when ready to serve break up chicken with fork and stir in sour cream

*Serves 8

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet

Cheeseburger Pasta

Cheeseburger Pasta


Just came across this recipe today and am going to give it a try.  Looks super easy and most ingredients are things you would have in your cupboard already.  Perfect for a day like this when it's too cold to leave the house!

*This recipe is getting rave reviews! :) 

Ingredients

- 1 lb (500 g) ground beef
- 1 can condensed tomato soup
- 1 soup can of water
- 2 cups uncooked rotini pasta
- 1 medium tomato, chopped
- 1/2 medium green pepper, chopped
- 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar or marble cheese

Directions

- cook beef at medium-high in large skillet until browned
- drain fat and reduce heat slightly
- stir in soup and water
- heat mixture to a boil, stirring often
- stir in uncooked rotini pasta, tomato, green pepper and black pepper (ensure pasta is in liquid)
- cover and cook over low-medium heat approx 15 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring often
- top with shredded cheese and serve

*Serves 4

Enjoy!

~ The Lazy Gourmet