Ladies on a Mission: The Official Site

[treetops]

Jane - I am not a hoarder but I live in what probably many others might see as a disorganized house. But I find I get stressed from just reading the stuff on the internet about organizing and doing what is the new household management. Some folk are really good at this and good luck to them. My sister is I think. Her kitchens would stand the scrutiny of OCD inspection any time.
I do get a very minor thrill from throwing stuff out (well ideally recycling) and seeing some progress. So the general advice to tackle a wee bit at a time is good.

[Pavati]

Hi,

Yes, SL, call me on my shenanigans. Any time.

I get VERY tired of the wine snob thing, but I did even when I was drinking. Too much! TT and NS - I get FREEZING now, too. I used to get the alcohol warmth, and now I almost feel like I'm cold all the time. I don't mind cocktail hour any more, but I do end up eating a lot...

I was looking at a health magazine today - one very medically inclined - and there was a whole LONG article about whether red wine really is better for you than other alcohol. It turns out not so much, but I felt like the whole thing was a glorification of alcohol in some way. They say - as those articles always do - what moderation is, but it almost felt like an aside. One thing I didn't know was that as much as 10% of the alcohol stays in the stew as it were. Because it is diluted so much, it is a negligent amount, but I still haven't dared cook with wine. I miss it in my stews. I've asked before, but anyone find a good substitute? Non al wine??

Off to bed. Jane, i'm with you. I am so happy to have found you all, and so dang happy to be sober.

Pav

[patrice]

Hi all,
So tired tonight and want to try and get to sleep before the fireworks start.. Just very load bangs.,
Have a good MAE all
Xx
Pat

[little beagle]

Pav this might sound weird, but I cook with tea. My roasts. It makes them tender and the gravy is delicious.

[jane27]

TT with the Lasagna and LilB with the roasts....you guys are making me hungry! Food is so yummy!

[narilly]

mmm, tea in your roast. I may try that. I am eating a LCHF (low carb high fat) diet and it is working quite well. I feel really good too. In the mornings I have been having heavy cream in my coffee and it is YUM! The hardest part is cutting down on carbs like bread, popcorn and crackers but I really enjoy eating more fat.

Trying to be super organized stresses me out too gals. I don't like having too much clutter around but it is weird when there is absolutely no clutter. I guess there is a happy medium for all of us and we have to figure that out.

So glad to be sober. It is amazing how clear everything is after being shades of grey for so long. (not the book, I know you all think I was a porn star! lol)

Have a great sober Thursday. I am thinking I will take tomorrow off, work is pretty slow right now.

I appreciate all of you.

[scottish lass]

I have actually cooked with wine - slow cooker stews....I think there is a little alcohol in all sorts of stuff - I like a NA beer that has .5%, and vanilla essence in my cakes. I use minimal and cook for hours, so hoping that it will not lead to other things - so far so good.
Jane - I am finding a lot I do is based on lessons here - one day at a time, one box at a time....I am glad you get the help you need here, and it supports you. That is the joy of this new world I have discovered - I do wish that I had not needed to find it, but as I did what riches I have received...
A tough day at work, two tough meetings with a disgruntled employee who is not preforming and does not own it - excuse after excuse - today he let us know he is ex special forces - I was wary of him before, but now it really concerns me. He feels that his problems are all my fault - not a good place to be...One though on the second meeting was to run home to the booze, did not last long but I would be zonked out by now if this was my day a couple years ago....happily sober and writing up my documentation for when he sues me!!! (as long as that is all he does!)

[treetops]

SL - I know how draining it can be with colleagues who project their work omissions and commissions onto you, and also the stress of being in a work situation and having to watch every little word one says or writes, even having to be guarded about very mild jokes. And the fear of it ending in court. And rereading and rereading all the structures and checks and balances that are supposed to be in place. Documenting this, and I think trying to compartmentalise workplace stress like this, is important. try not to bring it home. I am much better at doing that since I have been sober because I think reaching for the wine bottle - while it temporarily provides relief - after too much AL - we begin to obsess and just as a drunk repeats over and over the same silly things at a party, so we solitary drinkers repeat the same worries to ourselves, over and over. Then we wake up at 3am and worry more, can't get back to sleep and of course feel horrible, tired and stressed the next day. So for me,being sober has allowed me to deal with those workplace issues much more effectively I think - plus I don't roll it over onto the other people at home. It ain't perfect and neither could it be - but being sober helps me so much in my job.
On top of that I am being far less of a procrastinator these days. I still do this of course and I never was really bad with this, but I find I can deal with uncomfortable things in a much more timely manner.
Now if only I could - deal with my curtains. I have a set that need adjusting and I have put this off, finally saw to it last weekend - well tried to - the bloody machine died! Now in a search for a middle range sewing machine. Nothing fancy but looking for a reliable one. Think i may have that sorted. My daughter likes to sew sometimes - so its a goodie for her too.
Really Well done SL - on acknowledging that you could have run home to the booze but then not acting it on. No, you have moved on from doing that!

[Pavati]

Hi,

Yikes, that is sort of scary, SL. So glad you're documenting instead of drinking.

Yeah, I'll probably get to cooking with wine, but first I'll try the tea. I made it with chicken broth and a little vinegar last time - it was ok but missed something for sure.

Good night, all.

Pav

[patrice]

Hi all,
I'm into making bone broths at the moment... I find they Are giving me a little lift of energy.
I've also tried my hand at fermenting some food. I've been really getting into cooking this week, hit and crowded here and my apartment is very cool so I've cooked lots of very slow things like beef Rendang - TT I have a feeling you love that! It really is the most amazing dish..
LB - that roast sounds good.. There is something about a roast that I love, the smells, the ritual, the gravy.. Yum!

Have a good Mae!
Xx
Pat

[Dottie Belle]

Morning all,
I am still in the hospital. Supposed to get a test this morning then go home. It is below zero. They still have no clue what caused the afib. Always something....

[scottish lass]

DB - must have missed you were in the hospital - so sorry, and hope you get to escape soon!
TT- sometimes tough leaving work at work as I do a significant amount of call from home, but I do try. I am not a procrastinator so that can help.
Pav documenting not drinking
TGIF all

[treetops]

Hi there - Saturday morning in the tropics (haha!!) of New Zealand. Patrice - sorry but I would pass on the Beef Redang - I haven't eaten beef or red meat/chicken for nearly thirty years. Not about to start either! But I am sure you could make me something else that was yummy.
SL - I don't actually leave my 'work' at work as I work a lot from home too (actually been working they morning already) - but I try to mainly do the stuff that is less stressful at home - and try not to agonize over people problems that I can't really do much about at home.
Dottie - I hope you get some results soon and that its not too daunting. You take care.
Big hello to everyone else.

[treetops]

As for cooking with wine - I never did it much (probably because of my meat aversion) but I did use wine in some soups in the past. I haven't gone back to this myself but I know I have probably eaten soups and desserts with a bit of AL in them since my quit - and it didn't bother me or set me off about to break into a liquor store. I actually don't like anything with an obvious AL taste - much the way most children respond. But I had tiramasu a few months ago and enjoyed a small bite - its so rich. I would like to make French Onion Soup over winter but without a chicken or meat broth and without AL in it - its a different kettle of fish (oops - no fish in that soup!) :exclaim: - so I may have to experiment a bit with strong herbs. If I use wine - I will throw a glass in and maybe see if my partner will consume the rest. Or just put the rest away. Maybe AF wine might work - and there is also verjuice that some cooks swear by - but its not easy to find. I certainly have heard of people putting tea in stews and roasts - and even coffee (??) and of course cocoa/chocolate is used in cooking. Some of the halal websites have ideas for tasty AF cooking substitutes.

[narilly]

Morning everyone. Hope you have a great day.
I am taking the day off because it's our optional Friday off. Work is slow, people are getting let go everyday and I am worried. Oil price really effects us, it's boom or bust.

Yum, lots of good cooks around here. I am just figuring out what to make this week that's low carb, high fat. It's so hard to change, I have been eating low fat for years.