Got a question about disabilities? I have answers

by Lady Lee 99 Replies latest jw friends

  • StAnn
    StAnn

    White Dove, I should tell you that when I "cook" 9-10 pounds of hamburger to freeze, I just crumble it up and put in the crockpot. I have a six quart crock pot that holds almost 10 pounds of hamburger. Now that's the lazy way to do it!

    Also, I make a crockpot full of vegetable soup every week and freeze it in 2 cup portions. I can nuke those for lunch.

    Generally, I make a very large dinner. We eat dinner and then I package up one serving for my husband to take to work. I package up the rest to reheat for the boys for lunch the next day. (I hadn't thought about that when I posted earlier. What I was thinking about was that I used to try to do that once a week cooking thing and then everything would get eaten in three days.)

    I like oatmeal. A couple of times a week, I set the crockpot at night to cook up a big batch of steelcut oats. When I get up, breakfast is ready! Just dish it up. Then I put the rest in the fridge and reheat it for the next couple of days.

    I serve full meals for every meals. My youngest son is in a growth spurt and eats like a field hand. For breakfast, I usually serve oatmeal with fruit and nuts, sausage, toast, hard boiled eggs, and juice. I only eat oatmeal and a hard boiled egg and coffee. Sometimes for variety the boys get peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and milk for breakfast because they absolutely love it. They rarely eat cold cereal because they don't like it.

    For lunch, I serve the boys the leftovers, unless there aren't any. If there aren't any leftovers, it's mac and cheese with tuna, a veggie, fruit and milk. Again, the boys LOVE this lunch. I tend to always eat a bowl of homemade soup, a turkey breast sandwich, and an apple and water.

    Fridays are high cooking days because we're Catholic and on Fridays we abstain from meat. I have a few standard recipes that I use on Friday.

    Having a food routine does help because I don't have to think about what I'm going to cook.

    Also, I tend to use a lot of frozen veggies. I chop up onions in the food processor and freeze them, for instance, and then just scoop out what I need for recipes. I buy frozen broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, carrots, asparagus, etc. It's easier than prepping fresh ones. It also cuts down on food waste (no fresh veggies going bad in the fridge.) Probably the only fresh veggies in my fridge are celery, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, and avocados, all for salad. Well, we also have celery sticks with peanut butter for snacks. I keep cottage cheese around for snacks for me.

    We always have a bowl of apples and a bowl of oranges in the fridge. The boys like bananas so I tend to keep a bowl of bananas on the table so that they can help themselves. I also buy string cheese for quick snacks for the boys. And Triscuits. Quick and easy.

    If I can think of any more "lazy day" tips, I'll post them.

  • Lady Lee
    Lady Lee

    StAnn

    I love your cleaning tips. But my place is so small that one bucket would do - go to the bathroom - drag the mop there and back - wander over to the kitchen drag the mop there and back

    And your bathtub idea is fabulous. I don't want to use a bathroom cleaner because then it would get on me but a soap doesn't matter and still gets it clean. AWESOME. I can't be on my knees so this one is definitely a keeper for me.

    I don't have a freezer except for what is on the fridge but I do freeze some things. When I make a pot of pasta sauce I make a big pot that does make about 8-10 servings depending on what I put in the sauce.

    White Dove

    I'd rather not clean my shower top to bottom every...year.

    I see you have been using my method. Now we both have a new way to clean the tub

  • StAnn
    StAnn

    I have been down, down, down lately with the arthritis in my knees. Haven't posted because I haven't done anything worth chatting about. Right now, the whole world revolves around whether or not I can walk.

    I'm going to go into the basement to do laundry in about an hour. I know I'll be stuck there for quite awhile so I'm taking my basket of cleaning supplies with me, some trash bags, and a "donate" box. At least it will be a productive day in the basement but I won't be able to keep a close eye on the kids. I'm feeding them lunch now and I'll leave some snacky foods on the table. They'll come down to get in the way periodically so at least I'll know they're still alive.

    I'm really bummed about this lack of mobility. Need a hug today.

    Cheers,

    Serena

  • wasblind
    wasblind

    (((((((StAnn)))))))

  • Lady Lee
    Lady Lee

    (((Serena)))

    I'd come over and help even to keep an eye on the kids but I guess the hug will have to do. Sit as much as you can while you sort and take breaks when you need to.

    Too often I think I have to do everything NOW. Mostly because I have no way of knowing how long it will be before I can do something again. Then I wind up worse than when I started.

    My left hand is still quite sore after my fall. Sometimes picking up even something light hurts. But life still goes on and some things have to be done. The rest can wait.

    easy to say as I eye my own pile of laundry

  • Lady Lee
    Lady Lee

    actually I am not eyeing it. It is in the other room where I am steadfastly ignoring it

  • cult classic
    cult classic

    Serena , here's my hug for you . Hope you feel better soon.

    I tripped off my deck the other day and have a high ankle sprain. Boy is it painful. So I can imagine your immobility issues.

    For you too LL

  • Snoozy
    Snoozy

    I too like to cook in quantity and freeze, then I can just pull what I want out and pop it in the microwave to heat up stright from the freezer.

    I am curious as to what you gals use to freeze your food in? I have read so much about not freezing in plastic that I went out to try and find some of the old fashioned freezer containers..they are hard to find.

    Do you still use plastic? I have been using the Glad freezer containers and love them but am worried about the plastic now.

    I am also using freezer paper now instead of baggies and plastic wrap when possible. i buy meat at the market and have them wrap it in freezer paper.Then I just mark what it is on the paper.

    And if anyone ever comes up with a good idea on how the tub can clean themselves they will be a millionaire..

    Snoozy

  • Lady Lee
    Lady Lee

    Initially I use Tupperware to freeze my pasta sauce. Then when it is frozen I take it out of the containers and put each serving in freezer bags. That way they take up a lot less room in the freezer. When I buy frozen food from the store I take the product (frozen chicken patties or kebabs or shrimp) out of the box bag they come in and put the bag in a freezer bag. Then I cut up the box and place the info about what it is (if it isn't easily recognizable) and the cooking instructions inside the freezer bag with the bag gthey come in. I try as much as I can to remove the air from the bag.

    I only have the freezer on the fridge so I really need to conserve space as much as possible.

    I don't worry about the plastics. I figure one way or another they will find something that will kill us. Eventually we will all wind up dead.

    I wouldn't wrap things just in freezer paper though. Air is what ruins things a lot faster than a bit of plastic

  • StAnn
    StAnn

    Thanks for the hugs. Need them more today! Ugh, pain!

    I do freeze in freezer bags but lately I've been going to the dollar store and buying foil pans. That way, things can come out of the freezer and go straight into the oven.

    CC, believe it or not, I fell off my mother's welcome mat a few years back and broke my ankle. I feel your pain. Hope you get better soon!

    LadyLee, thanks for the offer! If only you knew how quickly my kids can move, even in leg braces, you may not offer! LOL! Hope it's just your hand you hurt after your fall.

    Ladies, we're a mess, you know it? If we were horses, would they shoot us?

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