Heidi Zimmerman

Soup on a Sick Day

October 3, 2017Dinner ideas, Low carb, Mama Bears, Recipes, Uncategorized1 Comment

Sometimes trying to carry the weight of the world comes at a price. I put so much energy into transitioning into a new job and jumping into it with great gusto. Then Atticus got sick and again I expended more energy on worrying, doting, and offering extra TLC to comfort him in his time of need. In the midst of all of this, I let work and personal stress get the best of me. Burning the candle at both ends typically doesn’t end well for me.

So yesterday when I woke up with a sore throat, I knew I might be in trouble. Unfortunately as the day progressed, I started to feel feverish, achy, and downright puny. When Atticus went down for his afternoon nap and Liam started his quiet time, I knew I needed to see a doctor to make sure I wasn’t coming down with something more serious than a cold.

It’s rare that I get sick, but when I do, it usually knocks me flat on my you know what. As I waited to see the doctor, I feel asleep on the table; a sign I was really in for it. The doctor walked in, awaking me from my feverish slumber, and delivered the bad news. My lab results confirmed strep throat.

I’d already missed two days of work only a week and a half into my new job because Atticus was too sick for daycare. Now I faced calling in again, this time to report I was too sick to work. This, of course, sent me into a bit of a tizzy because I worried immensely about what my new administrators would think about me missing another day of work. In the end, I accepted my fate, although rather begrudgingly, because I didn’t have any other alternatives.

Today’s sick day has been restful with lots of napping, lying in bed, and catching up on Hallmark movies. The antibiotics, fluids, and rest seem to be working their magic. I’ll be back at work tomorrow and will slowly ease back into it so that I can ensure a speedy recovery.

When I’m under the weather, there’s nothing better than homemade soup to ease my symptoms. Perhaps fate worked in my favor when it came to weekly meal planning because Saturday morning I’d purchased all of the necessary ingredients for chicken tortilla soup. I prepped, diced, chopped, minced, and gathered all of the items early on Sunday morning before I started to feel terrible. After my doctor’s visit and a trip to the pharmacy, I whipped it together in under 20 minutes. This soup was savory, spicy, and exactly what the doctor ordered! The leftovers were perfect for lunch today too.

INGREDIENTS:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 sweet onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 jalapeno, diced (Remove the seeds if you want to take the heat down a few notches)
1 pound chicken tenders, chopped
1 can fire roasted tomatoes
4 cups chicken broth
2 teaspoons – 1 tablespoon of chipotle chili pepper (It depends on how much heat you like!)
salt and pepper to taste
fresh cilantro, large handful
1 cup frozen sweet corn

GARNISHES:

Mexican cheese blend, grated
fresh limes, quartered
cilantro for topping
tortilla chips, crushed or in strips
fresh avocado, sliced

DIRECTIONS:

In a large soup pot on high heat, sauté the onions, garlic, and jalapeno in olive oil until fragrant. Add the chicken and cook until brown. Next add the tomatoes, corn, and the handful of cilantro. Top with salt, pepper, and chipotle chili pepper. Bring to a boil to warm everything through. When the soup is ready, serve with your favorite garnishes.

To stretch this soup, consider adding black beans.

A Mother’s Love

October 1, 2017baby bear, Faith, Family, Love, Mama Bears, Prayer, Special People, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

One of the hardest parts of motherhood is a sick baby. You so desperately wish you could take their discomfort away, and oftentimes feel helpless as you try to calm them in their fussy, feverish, and uncomfortable state.

Since Wednesday evening, Atticus has been under the weather. Enduring his fourth ear infection since late May. This ear infection came less than two weeks since his last and brought with it a high fever that he hasn’t kicked despite intermittent doses of infant Tylenol and Motrin.

Yesterday we visited the ENT and are scheduled for ear tubes. In consulting my inner circle, I’ve heard great things about the relief they provide but it still doesn’t ease my mommy angst. As if one doctor’s visit wasn’t enough, the ENT sent us back to our pediatrician for an antibiotic shot, which put Atticus in full meltdown mode and it took everything in me to hold back my own tears.

When your child is in pain, you feel their pain, sorrow, and anguish too. I wish I had a magic wand I could wave that would magically make the fever, discomfort, and infection disappear in a poof of smoke. Unfortunately it doesn’t work like that. Instead I hold him tight, soothe him, and give him all of my love. I savor his neediness because I know he won’t always let me be this close.

sick baby

Baby Bear, I hate seeing you so puny and unhappy. I pray this passes quickly and hope that the kisses, hugs, and cuddles make all the difference in the world. I can only imagine how difficult it feels to feel so much but be unable to articulate those feelings. I’ll be here to love you through it all because that’s what Mama Bears do best!

Variety is the Spice of Life

September 29, 2017Dinner ideas, Family, Low carb, Recipes, Uncategorized, VegetarianLeave a Comment

Most of the time when I zip through H-E-B, I have a running list in my head of the staple items I’ll need for the week. The compulsory tomatoes, milk, cereal, hummus, and multigrain bread always make the cut. Sometimes I meal plan for the week and have an agenda for what I will cook on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Other times, I go out on a limb and let the grocery store inspire me. Often I find myself inspired by seasonal produce or fresh seafood.

My most recent inspiration came from the beautiful portobello mushrooms caps in the produce section last week. I created a savory dish that paired perfectly with red wine, artisan bread, and bowtie pasta. Taking a risk in the kitchen, trusting your instincts, a little creativity, and your favorite people around the table are all you need for a perfect home cooked meal. After all, variety is the spice of life!

Savory Stuffed Mushrooms

INGREDIENTS:

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 portobello mushroom caps
1 pound of Italian sausage
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 of a sweet onion, diced
1 fire roasted red pepper, diced (I used jarred peppers but fresh would work too.)
1 can of artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
Italian bread crumbs
Fresh parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS:

Sauté the garlic and onions in olive oil over medium high heat until fragrant. Add the Italian sausage and cook until brown. Add the red peppers, artichoke hearts, salt, and pepper and cook until warmed through. Set aside.

Line an 8×8 Pyrex dish with parchment paper and place the portobello mushroom caps in the dish. Spoon the Italian sausage mix into each mushroom. Then sprinkle with bread crumbs and fresh grated parmesan cheese.

Roast in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes until the mushrooms are tender. Serve with a side of pasta and fresh bread. I made a simple side of bowtie pasta that I tossed with fresh parmesan, bread crumbs, and a little olive oil. It was the perfect complement to the savory stuffed mushrooms.

This recipe could easily be adapted to be vegetarian too. In place of the Italian sausage, use fire roasted tomatoes and a pint of chopped portobello mushrooms. The method would be the same with regards to preparation. Additionally omit the pasta and artisan rolls and substitute with a side of roasted vegetables or a fresh salad for a low carb dinner option.

All Dogs go to Heaven

September 28, 2017Happiness, Love, PetsLeave a Comment

It’s hard to believe my sweet Cookie Dough has been gone for a little over a year now. Faithful and true to the very end, she was the most important part of my furry family for thirteen years.

Saying goodbye to her is still one of the most difficult things I’ve faced. She sat in my lap letting me love her and pet her as tears streamed down my cheeks and fell softly onto her dark fur. At this point she had lost her eyesight and was suffering greatly because of severe pancreatitis. The veterinarian would come in and check on us for time to time that fateful afternoon waiting for me to signal I was ready to put her down. Each time, she entered I couldn’t bring myself to make eye contact with her.

I was six months pregnant with Atticus and remember feeling grief-stricken that Cookie would never have the opportunity to meet my first child. Cookie had been everything I could have ever wanted in a pet. From the first time I brought her home until her final night with me, she slept beside me; always burrowed under the sheets and cozied up next to me. I remember cradling her in my hands when I picked her up for the first time. She couldn’t have weighed more than three and a half pounds. Her large doe eyes and giant ears looked almost cartoonish on her petite frame. Cookie celebrated my graduation from college, moved thirteen different times with me, endured an incredibly traumatic apartment fire, and loved me unconditionally for thirteen beautiful years.

Thunderstorms sent poor Cookie into a tizzy. She would shake uncontrollably and cry out in fear; often burrowing under the sheets or ducking underneath the bed to escape the rainy conditions. She despised baths almost as much as she despised other dogs and delivery men. After a bath, she would run circles around the apartment, rolling around and cozying up in a towel to warm up. If I was in the kitchen cooking, she was always underfoot eager to nibble up any food that might fall off of the counter or stovetop. She especially loved Granny Smith apples, romaine lettuce, and carrot peels. I was always more than happy to share these healthy treats with her.

Atticus is now closing in on a year. He often reaches for Barkley (Sean’s fifteen-year-old Westie) and loves staring at him eye-to-eye through the backdoor. I can’t help but wonder how Cookie and Atticus would have interacted. Liam formed a strong bond with her and expressed great sadness when she died. Would they have been thick as thieves too?

I still think of Cookie often, especially on rainy days, when I peel carrots, or when I take my socks off after a run. She loved playing with them; pouncing on them and going into attack mode like they were a fierce beast threatening her very existence. Cookie truly stole my heart from the very beginning and will forever have a special place there until the end of time. She may be gone but my sweet Cookie Dough will never be forgotten.

“All dogs go to heaven because, unlike people, dogs are naturally good and loyal and kind.” Quote from All Dogs go to Heaven (1989)

Mama Bears & Motherhood

September 26, 2017Baby Bears & Little Bears, Faith, Family, Happiness, Love, Mama Bears, Special PeopleLeave a Comment

Mama Bears love fiercely, protect their own, and carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. They live each day for the baby bears they call their own. Some days the beauty of motherhood radiates around us like a luminescent aura. Other times our patience wears thin, and we cast blame on ourselves for our shortcomings.

Between the dirty diapers, runny noses, temper tantrums, home cooked meals, and bedtime stories, there is often little time for ourselves. Thank God for the brief quiet moments we steal from time to time, even if those moments come in the form of a quick shower, your child’s nap time, or an evening run around the neighborhood to clear your mind.

Undoubtedly, Mama Bears, we are often incredibly hard on ourselves and oftentimes not very forgiving. How easily we forget that we are human; flawed and imperfect. We have to cut ourselves some slack because we’re all doing the very best that we can. We are blessed with the amazing opportunity to help our children grow in faith, love, and character.

Motherhood will test and try us on more days than we’d like, but it will also surprise us in beautiful and unexpected ways just as often. I am grateful for every single day with my boys. They truly are my greatest joy, and my greatest hope is that they grow up to be respectful, responsible, and kind gentlemen who follow their heart and find great success in life. You, my sweet boys, are my sunshine, my light, and my reason for making every effort to be my best self for the two of you!

Kudos to all of my Mama Bear friends who I take notes from every single day. You inspire me through your words, actions, and strength. A special nod to the following Mama Bears: Anna, Ruby, Stephanie, Adita, and Blaine. I would be lost without your guidance, wisdom, and friendship.

Picadillo, Play, & Pinot

September 25, 2017September 25, 2017Dinner ideas, Family, Happiness, Recipes, Special PeopleLeave a Comment

This weekend solidified why the little things matter most in life. We had no expectations or plans, which allowed us to capitalize on meaningful quality time together as a family. We enjoyed our Saturday morning coffee date at Land of a Thousand Hills and spent the rest of they day playing. Between superheroes, dress up, and plenty of outdoor play, it was an easy going afternoon.

Sunday was another beautiful day full of sunshine and smiles. Liam decided his brother would make a cute Mr. Magoo. He dazzled me with his bowtie and monkeying around skills. Between hanging upside down and climbing into Atticus’s crib, Liam was in the thick of most of it.

Our weekend ended with a savory picadillo dinner paired with fresh avocado and tortillas. I rounded out my evening with a moonlit run and toasted the new week with a glass of Pinot Noir. All in all, the simplicity of this weekend was a beautiful change of pace to our very busy work week.

ingredients for pica

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound ground beef
1 teaspoon ground comino
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 can of fire roasted tomatoes
1 jalapeno, diced
1/2 sweet onion, diced
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 large Russet potato or 3 small white potatoes, chopped
1/3 cup of water

DIRECTIONS:

Sauté the potatoes in 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive or canola oil until brown on medium high. Remove from heat and drain on a paper towel. Next sauté the onion and garlic until fragrant. Add the ground beef and comino and cook until brown. Next add the canned tomatoes, chopped jalapeno, and cooked potatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and add the water. Cover and let simmer until the tomatoes and potatoes are warmed through. Serve with fresh avocado and tortillas.

My Newest Running Partner

September 23, 2017September 24, 2017baby bear, Family, Running, Special People, Uncategorized1 Comment

As of late, I’ve traded my quiet evening runs of solitude for a short, mostly bald running partner. While I adore his company, he doesn’t have much to say on our training runs. He’s not making me faster, but he’s certainly making me stronger. I often find myself plodding along with a partner who quite frankly is deadweight.

Despite these shortcomings, I continue to lace up my running shoes to join him for our weekend morning runs. Always the earlier riser, these runs begin in the dark. Occasionally he’ll babble or flash me a brief smile, but most of the time he’s lost in his own thoughts about life. Over the years, I’ve typically gravitated towards running partners who like me didn’t know the meaning of silence. Miles upon miles of training runs blurred together because of the words of training partners like Meg, Michael, Anna, Loris, Ed, Tom, and Gabe to name a few. Their company and conversation carrying me along for the ride.

My newest training partner, however, is a man of few words, but his bright eyes, belly laughs, and companionship mean the world to me. Pushing him along the winding paths of the neighborhood make for the perfect start to my day. We bask in the beauty of gorgeous sunrises; pausing from time to time for a water break or to exchange meaningful glances of encouragement through the sunroof of his stroller.

Undoubtedly running with a jogging stroller is a labor of love. It’s a full body resistance work out that is definitely not for the faint of heart. These training runs can be downright grueling, but I have come to love every part of them. In these quiet morning hours, Atticus and I share this pursuit of happiness together. It’s definitely my favorite kind of mommy and baby bonding time!

Like the Seasons…

September 22, 2017September 22, 2017Family, Happiness, Love, Papa Bear, Special People, Work1 Comment

This is an open letter to my husband, Sean:

I know most days we find ourselves caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. Most mornings our alarms buzz us out of our dreamlike state and propel us full speed ahead into our day. It’s a blur of brushing teeth, getting ourselves dressed, and then making sure the boys are ready to take on their day too. I’m downing coffee and toast while simultaneously packing up lunch boxes, gathering backpacks, and divvying out vitamins and allergy medicine for Liam. Through all of this there are brief exchanges and pleasantries, but I know I never give you much more than a hug, goodbye kiss, and a salutation to have a wonderful day.

After the boys are safely at daycare, goodbye hugs and kisses sending us all our respective ways, I often find myself reflecting on the way the morning unfolded. Many times, I lose myself in thought replaying certain parts of my morning like a particularly adorable giggle from Atticus or a Liamism that made me laugh out loud. In those moments, I wish I could rewind the day and freeze it long enough to have time to exchange an embrace with you that doesn’t feel like time is working against us. To enjoy more than a brief pleasantry and instead give you something more monumental to hold on to and carry with you throughout your day.

By the time I pull into the parking lot at work, reality sets in and the marathon race begins. It’s a blur of students, parents, emails, and meetings. Each brings a sense of accomplishment, but few opportunities allow me the time to pause in my day and send you a text message telling you I’m thinking about you, am looking forward to seeing you later in the day, or am sending you my love.

By the time 4 o’clock rolls around, the whirlwind of homework, dinner, bath time, and bedtime dictates the direction of our evening only leaving opportunities here and there to exchange pleasantries about our day. Then I’m out the door for a run and you’re often still trying to knock out work after the boys are down. As our own bedtimes quickly encroach on our quality time, I often find myself wishing there was simply more time in our day. More time for the little things like enjoying a glass of wine, duking it out over a game of Scrabble, or cuddling up to watch a great movie.

After we’ve both given our best to everyone else in our day, we often are too exhausted or mentally drained to give our best to one another. I say this not out of spite because in my heart, I know we both have the best of intentions. Between parenthood and demanding professions, it’s a reality we’ve both come to accept.

With that being said, however, I need you to know that I love you with my whole heart. I love seeing your eyes light up when you’re with the boys. I love watching you lost in thought as you pour over your computer. I love clinking glasses with you and enjoying a glass of red wine in your company. I don’t always give myself opportunities to pause and say thank you for how hard you work to provide for our family. I may not always give you the best of me, and I’m sorry for that. Please know that even when I fall short, I have the best of intentions at heart. I find peace in knowing that some of the stresses we carry with us every day are like the seasons; with time, they will change because our workload will lighten and our role as parents will shift as the boys get older and are more independent.

In the meantime, I’m hopeful an open letter written with love and sincerity will bring a smile to your face and joy to your heart. After all, Papa Bear, I love you to the moon and back!

All my love,

Heidi

The Whole Enchilada

September 21, 2017Dinner ideas, Family, Recipes, VegetarianLeave a Comment

Mexican food is undoubtedly my favorite type of cuisine to prepare. When cooking for a large group of family or friends, my go to Mexican dish traditionally is enchiladas, arroz (rice), and guacamole. Even in Indiana on two separate occasions, I’ve delivered the whole enchilada. And might I say finding all of the necessary ingredients there was no easy task!

The homemade sauce slowly simmered on the stovetop is what sets this recipe apart from your run of the mill enchilada sauce from a can. The marriage of flavors between the comino, chili powder, tomato paste, Mexican oregano, fresh garlic, and lime juice takes this recipe to new heights. Thug Kitchen has an excellent sauce recipe I’ve adapted. I love it so much that it is the only sauce recipe I’ve used in the last two years.

sauce ingredients

sauce

ENCHILADA SAUCE

2 1/4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1/3 cup tomato paste
2 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons Mexican oregano
2 to 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
2 teaspoons soy sauce or tamari
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Combine the broth, tomato paste, spices, garlic, and soy sauce in a medium size pot and simmer over medium low heat for about 15 minutes. Do not allow the sauce to come to a full boil. Remove from heat and allow to cool for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Squeeze fresh lime juice and stir.

The versatility of this dish makes it an easy dinner option for everyone from vegetarians to carnivores. Carnitas, ground beef, shredded chicken, sautéed mushrooms, spinach and onions, sweet potatoes and black beans… I could go on and on about the different kinds of fillings you could roll between each tortilla.

The most recent batch I made included carnitas and sautéed onions. I rolled them in corn tortillas and sandwiched them together in a 9 x 13 Pyrex dish.

Next pour the sauce across the top of the enchiladas until the tortillas are completely covered and about 1/4 of the bottom of the dish is full. Top with a healthy amount of grated cheddar or Mexican blend cheese.

cheesed

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Allow the enchiladas to bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and even slightly brown.

oven time

Top with guacamole, sour cream, salsa, and cojita and serve with arroz. When my house guests don’t devour all of the deliciousness, they make great leftovers too. You can reheat them in the oven or microwave them easily and enjoy them later in the week for lunch or dinner.

finished

I can’t say enough positive things about this dish and truthfully neither can my friends. It truly is the whole enchilada! Even my little sous chef agrees. From my kitchen to yours, buen provecho.

helper

Shop Local

September 20, 2017Dinner ideas, Shop LocalLeave a Comment

Farmers Market Finds

Every month the Bridgeland hosts a local Farmers Market with fresh finds. Last Sunday, Sean, Atticus, and I ventured out on a beautiful sunny afternoon to see what the local vendors were showcasing. We enjoyed some samples and purchased some of our favorites.

Backyard Bounty Farms: Made and jarred in Conroe, Texas by “The Pickle Man”, he shared that habanero peppers were the secret to his perfect pickles. They definitely brought the heat but also kept you wanting more.
Nisha’s Quick N Ezee Indian Food: Savory and spicy beef samosas topped with a cilantro peanut chutney were absolute perfection. Both freeze well and make an easy dinner option reheated in the oven. At previous visits to the farmers market, we’ve enjoyed their lamb samosas along with a sweet mango chutney and raita (an Indian yogurt and cucumber sauce).
BZ Honey: I sampled their orange blossom honey, which was heaven on a spoon. We walked away with a local raw honey ideal for drizzling over fresh fruit or added to a steeping hot cup of jasmine tea. An added bonus is that local honey is ideal for Sean and Liam’s allergies.

tea

Monogram Markets

Based out of her home, Laura offers quality monogramming in the Cypress area. Liam loved the lime green lettering that brightened up his dinosaur backpack. Atticus was intrigued by his name stitched across his lion backpack. I was incredibly pleased with both the finished product and the pricing. I will definitely continue using Mongram Markets in the future.

For product information, call Laura at 281-960-5047.

backpack

Fancy & Fabulous Creations

Jamee created these adorable onesies for Atticus. I found the onesies at H&M, pre washed them, and sent them her way. Then she worked her magic with screen printing perfection. Her designs are durable (a necessity for a crawling infant), hold up in the wash, and couldn’t be cuter on my little baby bear. She designs tees, coffee tumblers, and so much more. For your next family vacation or a unique gift idea, Fancy & Fabulous Creations delivers quality products that don’t disappoint!

For product information, email Jamee at Fancyandfabulouscreations@yahoo.com.

Shopping local allows us the opportunity to support our local economy and give back to those who live and work in our communities. The craftsmanship, quality products, and personal customer service, make shopping local such a joy! Consider doing your part to support your local economy.