Wow! I had another one of those amazing days again today. You know, the ones where everything in your day just runs smoothly, without stress or strain. I finally made time today for those things that I've been putting off, saying I don't have time for them...taking down the Christmas decorations on the patio, working out with the trainer for an hour, starting my 4th step, ect. And wouldn't you know it, I had so much extra time show up in my day that I was able to experiment with a new recipe - stuffed mushrooms with caramelized onions, got to snuggle with my husband (of 6 months and 1 day), and am now blogging before bed at 10:42pm - the earliest I've gone to bed in probably the last 6 months. It's amazing how when I make time to do things that honor me and honor God, suddenly extra time shows up in my day. I love that. I just wish I would remember it tomorrow. And the next day.
So we made it to 6 months with hardly a scratch! This was probably the fastest six months of my life (and definitely one of the best...so far!). Eric has gone part time at TB (which according to them is 40 hours, down from the previously required 50), so that he can go back to school. On Tuesday he starts two classes, a GE math class and an Addiction Treatment Class. I'm so excited for him to be really taking a step towards his dream of becoming an addiction counselor. Here's to making dreams realities!
So for those of you interested in the recipes that I said I would post, here is tonight's....
Stuffed Mushrooms with Caramelized Onions
Ingredients:
18 Baby Portabella Stuffing Mushrooms
1/2 cup Light Whipped Cream Cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesean
3 Sweet Yellow Onions
1 tbsp Minced Garlic
2 tbsp Butter
Olive Oil
Salt
First: Caramelize the onions. I had never done this before and didn't realize how long it would take. I just coated a large pan with a light layer of olive oil (about 1 tbs per onion), and melted 2 tbs of butter on medium heat until simmering. Then I added the onions that were cut finely and coated the onion completely with oil. I then left it at medium for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. I also added a dash of salt to the onions. After about 30 minutes, the caramelizing began and it was necessary to stir more often and lower the heat a bit. The whole process took about 45 minutes.
While the onions were caramelizing, I prepared my mushrooms. I used a spoon to carve out the stem and center of the mushroom, placing the carvings in a bowl and the mushrooms on a baking sheet, upside down. I prepared a total of 14 mushrooms and used the extra 4 mushrooms for the stuffing. I would suggest pricking through the center of the mushrooms with a fork to create holes for the extra water from the baking process, mine were a bit watery.
Next I chopped up the 4 whole mushrooms and the leftover carvings into the smallest pieces possible. I then heated two tablespoons of olive oil, the garlic, and the mushroom pieces in a pan over medium heat until the mushrooms were reduced and tender. I then added the caramelized onions. (I used a little too much oil in the caramelization so I drained some of that oil off before mixing it.) I then added the Parmesan and cream cheeses, a dash of salt, and mixed completely.
The next step was to spoon a generous amount of filling into each mushroom.
I did add gluten free breadcrumbs to the tops, but that was totally unnecessary. The caramelized onions are what make this taste wonderful.
Then I placed it in the oven for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
If you try it, tell me how you like it!
I hope you have an amazing day too!
Annie
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Who We Are...
My name is Annie (Tibbetts) Granados. I am a teacher at Laguna Hills High School in Laguna Hills, California. I teach CP Physics, Conceptual Chemistry, and I am the Pep Squad Advisor.
My husband's name is Eric Granados. He is currently an assistant manager for Yum Corporation and is currently taking classes to get a bachelors degree in Human Services.
Eric and I met about 3 years ago at an Overeater's Anonymous meeting. Now, you might be thinking....isn't it called Overeater's ANONYMOUS?? Isn't she supposed to be anonymous? Actually, the anonymous part just means that it is my right to remain anonymous if I choose to. But, both Eric and I know that we can help so many more people if we share our stories, so that is what we do. Our friends and family know that they have permission to share our stories as well, with anyone.
So Eric and I have a major issue in common. We are both compulsive overeaters. We were also both lucky enough to have found this amazing 12-step program that has literally saved both of our lives.
Eric has been morbidly obese for the majority of his life. He was in and out of eating disorder clinics and OA meetings since he was 11. I have struggled with weight since elementary school and was introduced to Overeaters Anonymous by a friend in 2008. Eric came into one of my local meetings in July of 2008 to take his chip. In OA, we take "chips" or tokens to celebrate sustained periods of abstinence. Abstinence is what we in OA call "sobriety". Except for we are not sober from drugs and alcohol, per se, instead, we are abstinent from our alcoholic foods. I'll explain a bit more about abstinence (as I understand it), later.
I was immediately attracted to Eric with his cool rockabilly style and exuberant personality. In fact, I was interested before he even opened his mouth! But unfortunately, when he did open his mouth at the meeting, it was to share his experience, strength, and hope, and to introduce his girlfriend and mother to the meeting....Needless to say, I gave up hope of any chance to date him as soon as I heard that he had a girlfriend.
Low and behold, about 7 months later, Eric showed up again at a meeting, and this time, he shared that he had broken up with his girlfriend. Inside my head, I gave a little cheer. A couple more months went by, I saw Eric a couple times but we really didn't talk to each other much. Finally, in April of 2009, he introduced himself (formally) and struck up a conversation with me. I had an inkling that he might be interested, but I swore that, if it was God's will for us to be together, it would happen on it's own. So I let it be. On May 13, 2009, Eric called me and left me a message. I had this feeling that he was calling to ask me out, so, full of confidence, I called him back. Indeed, his intention was to ask me out, and ask me out, he did! He was extremely nervous and even confirmed at the end of the conversation, "it's a date, right?" I confirmed this for him and we hung up the phones. Our first date was on May 17, 2009. It was a Sunday night, we had made a date to have coffee at the local Mimi's Cafe after the Sunday night meeting. It was a great night, Eric and I consumed enough tea and water to float away with (and neither of us really like tea or coffee!). There was a small earthquake in the middle of the date and we were asked to leave because the restaurant was closing. It was the beginning of beautiful life together...
Eric proposed on September 25, 2010 at his 40th birthday party - in front of many of our friends and family! My parents got the proposal on video - I'll try to post it somewhere on this site.
We got married on July 3, 2011 in Laguna Hills. It was a beautiful wedding - even better than we could ever had imagined! I've posted a small excerpt of the 4000+ photos that our wedding photographer took!
So now, 4.5 months later, we are getting settled into married life. We are both working way too many hours a week, most of which don't overlap with each other. :( But we are making it work, and this is our story...
My husband's name is Eric Granados. He is currently an assistant manager for Yum Corporation and is currently taking classes to get a bachelors degree in Human Services.
Eric and I met about 3 years ago at an Overeater's Anonymous meeting. Now, you might be thinking....isn't it called Overeater's ANONYMOUS?? Isn't she supposed to be anonymous? Actually, the anonymous part just means that it is my right to remain anonymous if I choose to. But, both Eric and I know that we can help so many more people if we share our stories, so that is what we do. Our friends and family know that they have permission to share our stories as well, with anyone.
So Eric and I have a major issue in common. We are both compulsive overeaters. We were also both lucky enough to have found this amazing 12-step program that has literally saved both of our lives.
Eric has been morbidly obese for the majority of his life. He was in and out of eating disorder clinics and OA meetings since he was 11. I have struggled with weight since elementary school and was introduced to Overeaters Anonymous by a friend in 2008. Eric came into one of my local meetings in July of 2008 to take his chip. In OA, we take "chips" or tokens to celebrate sustained periods of abstinence. Abstinence is what we in OA call "sobriety". Except for we are not sober from drugs and alcohol, per se, instead, we are abstinent from our alcoholic foods. I'll explain a bit more about abstinence (as I understand it), later.
I was immediately attracted to Eric with his cool rockabilly style and exuberant personality. In fact, I was interested before he even opened his mouth! But unfortunately, when he did open his mouth at the meeting, it was to share his experience, strength, and hope, and to introduce his girlfriend and mother to the meeting....Needless to say, I gave up hope of any chance to date him as soon as I heard that he had a girlfriend.
Low and behold, about 7 months later, Eric showed up again at a meeting, and this time, he shared that he had broken up with his girlfriend. Inside my head, I gave a little cheer. A couple more months went by, I saw Eric a couple times but we really didn't talk to each other much. Finally, in April of 2009, he introduced himself (formally) and struck up a conversation with me. I had an inkling that he might be interested, but I swore that, if it was God's will for us to be together, it would happen on it's own. So I let it be. On May 13, 2009, Eric called me and left me a message. I had this feeling that he was calling to ask me out, so, full of confidence, I called him back. Indeed, his intention was to ask me out, and ask me out, he did! He was extremely nervous and even confirmed at the end of the conversation, "it's a date, right?" I confirmed this for him and we hung up the phones. Our first date was on May 17, 2009. It was a Sunday night, we had made a date to have coffee at the local Mimi's Cafe after the Sunday night meeting. It was a great night, Eric and I consumed enough tea and water to float away with (and neither of us really like tea or coffee!). There was a small earthquake in the middle of the date and we were asked to leave because the restaurant was closing. It was the beginning of beautiful life together...
Eric proposed on September 25, 2010 at his 40th birthday party - in front of many of our friends and family! My parents got the proposal on video - I'll try to post it somewhere on this site.
We got married on July 3, 2011 in Laguna Hills. It was a beautiful wedding - even better than we could ever had imagined! I've posted a small excerpt of the 4000+ photos that our wedding photographer took!
So now, 4.5 months later, we are getting settled into married life. We are both working way too many hours a week, most of which don't overlap with each other. :( But we are making it work, and this is our story...
Well, I've gone and done it...
Something I've noticed since a bunch of my friends have gotten married is that they all have blogs. The whole idea of blogs and social networks seemed kind of dumb to me at first - who wants to know what I am doing at any specific moment? But, I've found that sometimes it is tough to keep in personal touch with friends, especially since every one's lives are so busy, that blogs create a way for me to keep updated with my friends and their families, even if we aren't actually able to get together.
So, I've gone and done it. We have a blog now too. I don't exactly know what it is going to contain - we'll see where it goes from here....
So, I've gone and done it. We have a blog now too. I don't exactly know what it is going to contain - we'll see where it goes from here....
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