Martha Monday

Monday Martha is a reflection on something (anything) creative that you accomplished. It can be cooking, scrapbooking, sewing, gardening, home improvements, etc. Celebrate the time you took just to do something you love.

I wanted to do this because I love to be creative and I love all the awesome ideas that Martha Stewart comes up with. Last year I was given the book Martha Stewart Cooking School book. It has taken me this long to crack it open and start spending time learning something I love - cooking.

Feel free to GRAB THE BUTTON at the top of the post (right click & save) and link up (mr. linky at bottom of post). Express yourself and share your creative vibes.

Last week I made Roasted Pork Loin with Pancetta and Sage (pg 142 in the MSCS book). Here is what I did with my leftovers.

I heated up the pork, toasted the bread and made a sandwich melt then ate it with leftover potato salad. YuM!

This past week, I decided to conquer a BIG item that has always been on my list of things to cook.

RACK OF LAMB

When I went shopping, I know now to always walk into the grocery and go straight back to the meat department because if they do not have what I want I know I will have to go somewhere else. I do not want to buy all of my goodies without the main course. And since I have yet to become proficient in what is in season (maybe next lesson), I am just picking out a recipe I want to cook and then going from there.

The problem I had this time was I couldn't find the right spices. I have owned a spice rack for about six years now and I have only used two of the spices - cinnamon (for cinnamon and sugar toast) and paprika (for deviled eggs). This time the recipe required fresh mint leaves and fresh flat leaf parsley leaves. I did have crushed parsley, but no mint. I knew I could probably get away with the crushed parsley, but since I had to look for the mint . . . . I wish I could go online and create a spice rack that only sold the items I needed and used on a daily basis because obliviously the ones the pre-arranged rack don't work.

I made the lamb coating first which contained parsley, mint, lemon, lemon zest, EVOO, salt and bread crumbs.

I purchased TWO rack of lambs each a little over 1.5 lbs, but I was serving 4 people and two of them were men. I didn't want to short change my guests so I went for the two, instead of one rack.

I patted them both dry with paper towels then showered them in pepper and salt. I then, put them in the pan on the stove and seared both sides on med-high heat for about 2 minutes.

When they were done and cooled a bit, I covered them in greek-style yogurt (pretty liberally) and then poured the coating over it I patted it into the yogurt to make it compact. I then put them both in the oven for 24 minutes.

Peeking in the oven.

For the side, I decided on corn on the cobb. It is Saint's favorite recipe and I thought it would be a healthier choice than potatoes. I really wanted asparagus, but didn't want to cook two veggies. I bought corn on the cobb with the husks but because the husks wouldn't all fit in the pan at once, I peeled them. My dad says to let the corn on the cobb soak in water for 10 minutes before cooking.

Corn on the cobb was a lesson for me. I STARTED THE STOVE ON FIRE. Apparently, there was something on the burner. As the corn water boiled over a bit, a flame shot up and over the pot. I screamed and started hopping from foot to foot. I looked at Saint who was in the living room and while still hopping yelped, "FIRE!! FIRE, FIRE FIRE!!!" He jumped up and asked where. I pointed to the back of the boiling pot of water and he just kind of waved it off and said it would burn out. I, on the other hand, was freaking out. I looked at him and said, "well now that we are on the subject. WHAT DO I DO IF THERE IS A FIRE?" And he proceeded to show me where the fire extinguisher is in my new apartment (noting that it is ok to break the glass, better than the building burning down. He told me water is good for normal fires, but powder (like flour) is good for electrical fire. Again, emphasizing that clenaing up powder and water or ruining the food is not as bad as the place burning down.

The two racks actually took almost twice as long to cook being that I cooked them at the same time.

Saint was kind enough to cut them for me. There was a small bone that connected all the lamb together. It was very hard to cut through. Mental note, maybe pick up a meat cutter or knife.

Here is how pretty the table turned out. Now I really want to take some sort of table etiquette class so I know how to set a table.  Along with the rack of lamb, corn on the cobb. I provided a make your own salad with tomatoes, cheese, avocado, nuts and craisins. My mom brought oatmeal, raisin, chocolate chip cookies for dessert. We had a few glasses of wine before dinner (waiting for the meat to cook) and during because it was so pleasant.

Quick notes about TMJ

Midday Escapades asked me about TMJ and so I thought I'd write a post detailing what I know about TMJ and what to do if you have it.

I have had TMJ for over 12 years now and if I could pin point it (which sadly I can't) I would have to say I got it way back when I was in high school and had my braces on. I had this orthodontist who gave me a retainer that when I bit down on it, it helps to close the gaps in my teeth faster. And I would do anything to make my braces come off faster. You would not believe the amount of time and energy my fifteen year old self spent clenching my teeth together.

TMJ Is defined as follows by TMJ association -

• Temporomandibular Joint and Muscle Disorders (TMJDs), commonly called TMJ, are a collection of poorly understood conditions characterized by pain in the jaw and surrounding tissues and limitations in jaw movements. Injury and conditions that routinely affect other joints in the body, such as arthritis, also affect the temporomandibular joint. People diagnosed with TMJDs may be experiencing other symptoms and medical conditions as part of a broad multi-systems illnesses that go unrecognized.

It took me almost an entire two years to get my TMJ under control the first time I was able to find THE BEST specialist in the SW. I used everything in conjunction to be up to par. As long as it is manageable I am happy.  I wear my mouth splint (see below) every night without exception (I will admit paying $500 out of pocket helps motivate me too). I used anxiety medication which I was very wary about at first, but since stress was my main trigger it was a good decision. My TMJ dr also recommended a good pain management dr for trigger point injections. At one point I was having over 16 put in my neck and back every week. (very painful, but worth it) I mixed chiropractic care with massage and physical therapy. I used a TENS machine, heat and ice and lidocaine patches. All of this was done over the course of two years. Each in different waves, but it took over nine months to really start feeling normal good again. I journaled every day giving scales of how I felt pain-wise in all parts of my body, what meds I took, what I ate, etc. In order to keep my costs down, I did all my physical therapy at home. My specialist did everything he could to work with the insurance company to figure out ways to code it so I could have some of it covered. I also outsourced very little because when I did, I noticed almost immediately that the person was clueless. Most drs have heard about TMJ, most have read about it, but VERY FEW actually know what they are talking about. Most drs will make it worse. Get the best, it's SO worth it.

Sadly I got in a major car accident just six months after I was finally feeling better, but again with my pain management dr I was able to get back up to par in about four months.

Triggers for TMJ are as follows -

• sugars - foods like carrots, corn
• white flour - yes, switch to wheat or better yet, make your own foods; go gluten free if poss
• stress - teeth clenching and/or grinding
• accident creating the effect

Here's what I have learned in my extensive research and doctor visits.

• Get the BEST TMJ specialist you can find
• Do  your research here
• then have them recommend a dentist, pain management (if nec) and physical therapist (again if nec)
• Splint - have a mouth guard or splint made for your teeth 
• do not have this made by the dentist; you'll probably have to pay out of pocket unless you
• are one of the special people who live in a state where TMJ is considered a real diagnosis and covered my insurance
• use denture cleaner to rinse it (baking soda is good too) and whenever I visit any kind of mouth dr I bring my splint and have them clean it
•  Foods - the TMJ specialist will give you a meal plan with food to stay away from
• certain foods will increase the pain and popping in the jaw
• I knew a girl in college who opted for the jaw surgery where they sew your jaw shut. She chose to go completely sugar and flour free, making all her food from scratch.
• cut your food up into smaller pieces; stay away from extremely gooey foods like peanut butter, carmel, gum; 
• when I need sugar I usually drink apple juice because it gives me the feel of a major sweet, but it is still good for me though I am a sweets girl
• Exercise & Posture
• posture is very important to the functionality of your jaw. I had a physical therapist who taped large X's on my back with tape that required I sit up straight. Every time I tried to slouch it would pull.
• Exercise is important. Stretching is key. Spend 10 minutes a day 2xs a day just stretching. Get some really good DVDs. I like Yoga for stress relief DVD. But I LOVE Michelle LeMay's Spirit Flow Rejuvenating Core Stretch. She is really good and I just love her DVDS. I would love to get more of her stuff.
• Get a partner
• If possible have someone close to you, who isn't afraid to move your neck in weird positions, come to your pain management appointments to learn how to stretch your body. This will lower your bills and help your progression because it will help you to do this more than just at your dr appt. 

I will tell you, though you should listen to your doctor, but I wouldn't recommend surgery simply because I have heard not great things, most important it may not help and it may actually create more pain. I think it depends on your type of TMJ.

TMJ is not a thing that can be fixed quickly or permanently. It is learning to LIVE WITH TMJ. It is being able to get TMJ under control and then keeping close watch on how your body is doing.

I can feel 100% and after one night of sleeping weird, I can put myself right back into a bad situation. It is very important to stay focused on how you are feeling, what is hurting and from where. You know your body best. Listen to it.

Please feel free to email me to discuss further at heavenisabookstore@gmail.com

The allergist

I went to the allergist for the second time.

The first time, I was really sick. I went because my general practitioner had sent me away telling me, "I would be fine." That was six weeks before I broke down and called an allergist. It had to be something. I couldn't function. I was tired, my eyes, nose and mouth were sore and swollen. My gland had been swollen like a golf ball for weeks.

We talked about my medications. She immediately told me to get rid of the Afrin. No more. It is very dangerous and could created holes in my nose and worse. Eww. Then she adjusted my medications. I am now on Singular because I have a small amount of asthma in the recesses of my lungs. She also gave me new nasal sprays - Veramyst and Astepro - each of them are used at different times of the day.

I was always told pills in the morning and nasal sprays at night because it is a more controlled environment for the sprays. But that was over a decade ago.

Now after another two weeks, I am much better. I still have allergy symptoms, but they are few and far between.

I find it funny that she said I had severe allergies with an underlying viral infection, yet my general physician did nothing for me. Sad.

So, this day was my second appointment with her. Today was skin testing. Finding out what I am really allergic to and what to do.


I go in and they sit me in a chair, put three pillows on my lap. They ask me to put my arms on top of the pillows and lay them inside up. Then they proceed to take a six prong (what looks like) a stamp that is resting in liquid and puncture my skin with it. Four on each arm. Which means I was punctured 48 times, with 48 different things I could be allergic to. Then the nurse says, "don't move, I'll be back in twenty minutes."

Haha, that's funny.

No really, that's what they do.


There was a little boy, I guessing about five years old, in a room down the way that was sobbing uncontrollable. I felt so bad. I could hear the nurses trying to console him. He wouldn't have it. My favorite -
"We are going to make you feel better, don't you want to feel better?"
"Noooooooooooooooooo"


Honestly, it didn't itch very badly except for the natural positive that they do so they can tell the allergy test is working. Until, they wiped all the test spots down with antiseptic. Once that air hit the spots, I wanted to scratch like a crazy woman, but I refrained.

This picture is called a positive.


Then once they narrowed down what I was allergic to, they then do an under the skin test on another part of my arm. They take the top allergies and put them each in a needle and poke them under the skin, quite like a tuberculosis test. It pops up the skin and THAT HURTS!! YEOWZA!!


I love this photo here because I was getting ready to leave and my allergist comes in and says, "Oh honey, wait, they will come in and clean you up so you don't scare anyone."

Haha. Forgot about the green marker, the pen marks and the rest spots. I probably did look like a walking disease.


I would really like to go back to have testing done for food allergies and chemical allergies. I am fully aware of the major chemical allergies that I have to most cleaning supplies, perfumes and dyes in lotions and soaps. It'd be great to know more about how to live my life more healthy and happy.

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Better cat food, Whiskas

I used to serve my kitties Science Diet cat food because I felt it was the healthiest choice for my kitties. I want them to live long lives. Long healthy lives. Their food is one of the most important ways for me to show I care. They split a 6oz can of soft food in the morning and then they each get one (1/3cu) scoop of hard food. I personally am a fan of the smaller kibble size.

But one day I was shopping at Petsmart and it dawned on me that the .59 cents I used to pay for a can of food was now .87 cents. Then on another occasion it was now .95 cents. And at .98 cents I told myself I wasn't going to pay those prices. It was too expensive. Not to mention, I was throwing out at least half the can each day when they didn't eat it. I mean $1 per day not including the hard food I feed them.

I found a coupon in the newspaper for buy on get one half off for Whiskas soft food. They call them meal time trays. They sale for .59 cents and not only does Petsmart sell them, but so does Target. And if you've read my blog before you know I am a HUGE fan of Target.

One of the reasons I chose Whiskas is because it has been served in the vet offices that I have visited. So I know it can't be too bad for my cats.

But, at the same time MY CATS LOVE IT so I am starting to wonder if it's like fast food for cats. It can't possibly be that healthy if they eat it and (just about every day) lick their bowls clean. They wake me up in the morning, crying for me to feed them. They seem a bit more lively and a bit more rambunctious too.

On a busy work day, I can even put down their hard food (which is dinner) next to the soft, canned food and they will still finish the canned food too. I find them leaving the hard food left in their bowls. Whereas before they would leave the Science Diet canned food and then cry for more hard food.

Health wise, my cats need to eat their soft canned food. It provides nourishment in the form of juices and liquid. It helps my cats process their hair balls. It does add weight to them, but that is why they are not free fed and are on a strict (amount of food) diet. They only get one treat a day - though sometimes not even once a day. Usually when Izabel begs for a treat. Which is where I have heard is where most of the weight in pets comes from. I do not feed them table food, except on occasion of a piece of hamburger or steak.

So I wrote this post because I sometimes struggle with how to take care of my cats. I want the best for them, but sometimes I just cannot afford the best. I do what I can. And Whiskas works for me.