Today has just not been the best day physically. It’s like I’m back in week 9 with stomach mood swings of nausea and now a headache! Also I could barely keep my eyes open this afternoon – flashbacks from a month ago. Luckily I was able to take it easy today and caught up on things around the house. I’ve have woken up every day of this pregnancy thankful to be able to work from home.
I made it to the grocery store where I picked up a bouquet of flowers for $5. Spring is the best time for flowers at home! When you’re just dying to see them poking out of the earth. What I’ve been loving lately too is breaking a bouquet into multiple vases/jars. This one was a huge steal for 5 bucks, so I split it into 3 vases and now have 3 times the joy!
I stopped into the bakery on my way home. Granola production round II is underway! Shipment 2 went out today and our last shipment goes out either Tuesday or Wednesday, so if you ordered on the later side, expect it by the end of next week or so.
Had a taste of cranberry Savannah bar while I was there – still tasted as good as when I left!
A while later, I had snack #2.
Grapes, Manchego cheese, salted almonds. I used to eat almonds every day and then bought a jar of unsalted, raw to make nut butter with. That was the end of almond snacking – I just didn’t like the raw ones. So now I’m back on salted/roasted and MY GOSH they are good!!
Dinner tonight was inspired by grits! Beautiful yellow grits.
I picked up some shrimp at Whole Foods too, so I could make shrimp and grits. Rather than cooking them on the stovetop, I decided to put the rice cooker to use and checked this new cookbook I bought for a recipe. This cookbook is FILLED with rice cooker recipes – you are sure to use it with this on your shelf!
I found about 5 grits recipes and went with the old fashioned creamy kind
I put the grits, water, salt and butter in my pot and set to Porridge.
The recipe told me to do the porridge cycle TWICE – which would have been an hour and a half, but after just one cycle, the grits were ready. I stirred in some 2% milk to make them creamy and let them sit on warm until dinner was ready. Perfect hands-free grits!
The shrimps were sauteed in olive oil and doused in Old Bay seasoning and then allowed to rest while I sauteed frozen okra (LOVE OKRA!), red bell pepper and frozen corn in the same. It all came together in the bowl:
And was drizzled with a little honey bear!
Quite delicious!
Matt and I watched the Season 3 finale of LOST. It wasn’t quite as mind blowing as I was expecting, but still good. Season 4 is already really interesting to watch!
I have a full day planned tomorrow, so I’m going to bed early in hopes of shaking whatever fatigue or sickness is chasing me. Nite!
Dinner looks beautiful! And so do the flowers!! Hope you feel great tomorrow!
I have never had girts before, but the shrimp looks awesome!
I love your idea of splitting a big bouquet into multiple vases. And they look so nice on your new porch! Hope you get some rest and feel better tomorrow.
Your Honey Bear could not be more adorable. And now I’m totally craving shrimp 🙂
All this food looks delish!
I’m sorry you’re having a rough day. I’m glad you made the best of it though. Dinner looks delicious! I hope you get a good night’s sleep and wake up feeling so much better tomorrow.
oh my gosh, that dinner looks so delicious. Do you have an extra bedroom I could move into? maybe a large closet? I’ll babysit for food.
haha ditto!!!
All my friends who get pregnant say the nausea comes back for about 4 weeks around this time…Guess it’s happening to you too! Part of becoming a momma I suppose.
Those flowers look great and I’m about to go get myself a mason jar and fill it ASAP with some pretty springtime flare 🙂
That’s the cutest honey bear EVER! 🙂
I’ve never tried okra before and I’ll be honest, I’m a little afraid…
I wish lost were still airing 🙁
What are grits exactly? It must be an american thing, I’ve never seen or heard of it around here!
Have you had polenta? Yellow grits and polenta are nearly identical. I think the only difference is type of corn.
That is AWESOME and good to know!! had no idea 🙂
I’ve only ever heard of polenta and I didn’t know what it was!
So it’s just corn? Like cornmeal? (which I’ve only actually had once, in a really strange biscuit)
It’s like oat bran – have you had that? In texture. It’s ground hard corn
i’ve been snacking on almonds a lot lately too. except they’re jordan ones, covered in aritificial dyes and sugar!!!
I love picking flowers for a little pick me up! They always brighten the house and put a smile on my face!
I was useless at work when I had morning sickness…just stared at my computer fighting off the barfs and sleep.
Your grits look amazing!! I love okra as well!!
This post is all kinds of awesome! Sean and I started buying $5 bouquets to set up around our condo and I love the idea of splitting them into multiple vases (or jars). I find the $5 bouquets last a really long time too–especially from the more expensive grocery store.
My parents recently bought me a Zojirushi for my birthday and I haven’t found much use for it (I’m not a daily rice eater) but that cookbook looks like something I definitely need to get my hands on. I love the idea of grits in the rice cooker too, though unfortunately, I’m allergic to shrimp. It makes me sad to know that I’ll never be able to taste shrimp ‘n grits and your dinner looks especially delicious.
Wow, your shrimp and grits bowl looks amazing! I love the addition of okra and red bell pepper, it’s so colorful and fun! I got shrimp and grits at a new restaurant downtown a few days ago and it was literally just that and nothing else on the plate, it needed something more… The flavor and texture was good though. Since they just opened recently I’ll probably give them another chance. I’m catching up after a few days, belated congrats on the Phenomenal Bread award!!!!
Grits are fabulous! Did you really put honey on them?? I’ve never heard of that! I always douse them in hot sauce.
makes me crave the south!
I love my rice cooker, and am always looking for recipes. I’ve used the rice cooker book The Pot and How to Use It, by Roger Ebert (the movie critic). It’s great because it is full of letters that people have written in on how they use their cooker.
If you ever get sick of your lack of flowers, you can come out to LA and stay with me! 😉
I sign every time I see a post by you or Emily using the rice cooker, because then I want one. But I know right now I dont really need one. But when I start working dayshift and need my oats waiting for me, I will be getting one. And this cookbook, too, because it sounds great!
Your supper looks awesome!
I am SO sad the nearest Great harvest is 70 miles from me. I need to make a trip and see if they have items that look as tasty as yours!
I know you’re already on it, but exercise was the #1 way for me to deal with headaches during pregnancy. That and taking adequate rest. For those of us who are movers and shakers, it can be really hard to slow down, but with pregnancy, especially your first, take the time to take care of yourself (and be taken care of by others! That’s what husbands are for!) so try to just take it really easy.
Late in my second tri I got hit really bad by nausea, faintness, and headaches, and realized that it was a problem with my blood sugar. Keep doing small appetizer-sized meals all day with protein, fat, and carbs in each one. I know it’s physically tough, but I promise second trimester is really great.
Have you ever toasted your raw almonds? I LOVE them that way. Just bake at 300* for 10-12 min. They are sooooo yummy and no added salt 🙂
But the salt is the best partttt!
Ya know… if you had asked me 5 days ago (or yesterday even!) if I wanted grits for dinner, i would have said NOOO! But looking at your dinner…….. I’m so hungry right now LOL It looks SOOO GOOD!!!!
Btw…. I am a HUGE GIGANTIC MASSIVE BIGGEST EVER LOST FAN!!! you can call me a loser, i don’t care!! best show EVER to hit the tv screen. We watched it like you did, until season 6…. where we had to watch it on tv….. i won’t give you annny spoilers, but I will say I cried at the very end.. I fell in love with all the characters… Sawyer is HOT and Jack has my heart <3 (Sayid was pretty hot too, that sexy shweaty beast!)
I am addicted to almonds…roasting raw almonds for 5-7 minutes changes the flavour completely!
Glad you got the Rice Cooker book! I love it!
I had no idea pregnancy could cause one to be so sick… I admire you!
Mmm.. shrimp and grits!!!
I’ve never thought of having grits for anythin’ other than breakfast! What a good idea!
that dinner looks sooooooooooooo good and amazing.
I’ve have woken up every day of this pregnancy thankful to be able to work from home. <— Yes, be glad. I was selling timeshare when I was pregnant and I'd have to put on a suit, put on a happy face, and try not to puke on my tours. I honestly have no idea how I did it…I had to keep the job for the insurance benefits otherwise, I would have much rather been…AT home!
Your dinner looks awesome and nice book find! fun!
Hi Kath! Sorry to here you are not feeling well. That happens to so many people after traveling. Sometimes it is the climate change, sometimes it is all the germs that are unfamiliar to your body. Try a couple of zinc lozenges. They say they really work.
I was so tired my first trimester, and I was lucky enough to work from home too, I used to wonder how the heck people could possible stay awake all day in a cubicle, or anywhere for that matter. I was so tired, I would put my head on my desk and be nodding off. At about 14/15 weeks, it passed, and I had tons of energy the rest of my pregnancy. My daughter is like the energizer bunny, never tired, always moving, I always tease that she took my energy in those months!
Your dinner looks amazing. Nice colors!
You’re so fortunate to work from home. And, add the bonus of day care savings when the time comes! Good for you.
Yum! Shrimp and grits is one of my all time favorite meals. You can add so much variation to it. I am not sure what brand of grits you use, but my favorite is Charleston Favorites Whole Ground Grits. They are so good! A little more expensive, but so worth it!
I just had shrimp and grits for the first time last week. Sheltered life?
I sit here with a bouquet of white daisies brightening up my days…they are still looking quite good from Valentine’s Day! Talk about getting your money’s worth! I am always on the look out for tulips on sale too…I love fresh flowers!
I hope you wake up feeling better! Days when your energy is zapped are just the absolute worst to get through.
Also – so funny about the almonds because I was the exact opposite of you…hated them until I tried them raw then fell in love!
We just started Lost… We are on episode 15 of season one and love it. This might sound bad but we can’t wait to put the kids to bed at night so we can watch it! We’ve been watching 3 episodes every night. Dinner looks wonderful and so creative. As usual 🙂
TOTALLY understand!
Wow! What a beautiful dinner! Hope you are feeling better this morning. 🙂
Those flowers are beautiful! I love spring flowers. I cannot wait for tulips, gerbera daises and daffodils. They are so pretty! 🙂
Dinner looks mighty tasty! I hope you are feeling better!
I just tried okra for the first time last week and I loved it! I want to add it to everything now!
That was DEFINITELY $5 well spent. I think that buying flowers is always worth it (even if you’re buying them for yourself!).
Oh man, I’ve got to put grits (or polenta even) on the dinner menu for next week. That dinner looks incredible! It doesn’t get much better than shrimp + grits (except my weirdo husband isn’t crazy about shrimp).
I love that you are doing grits 🙂 I’ve only made them a few times but really want to do more.
Ah LOST, how I love it. Like you, I watched the DVD series (pre-kid), at least early on, and I think I watched the whole first season in one night (my husband laughed and laughed at me)…. what can I say, suspense kills me! It stunk when I got caught up and had to wait week to week for the broadcast. Loved that show!
Hi Kath,
We’re nearly ready to take the plunge and purchase a rice cooker. Just wondering how you feel about your rice cooker now that you’ve had it for a while – would you still buy the one that you purchased? I remember reading about your decision making process on that particular item. 🙂
Thanks!
Love it 100 times! Works great and super easy to clean. I’d get the same one!
Your dinner looks delish! You can make me hungry for things that I would have never thought to eat 🙂
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Your dinner looks delicious! Love shrimp and grits!
And the flowers are beautiful!
yummm that shrimp and grits dish looks absolutely dreamy!!
Your dinner looks amazing. In England we eat Manchego as they do in Spain – with Quince jelly. Goes sooo well together. Do you have that in the USA?
As soon as I read the word “grits” I found myself cooking a batch a quick cooking grits with cheese! I am now enjoying a delicious warm bowl and sad that I have no shrimp! Mmmm… love okra, too. Especially fried (tee-hee)
I agree with the roasted, salted almonds! Any nut in that case. Always better 🙂
Thank you for turning me on to the rice cooker. I bought the same one and also the Rice Cooker book a few weeks back. Look forward to more postings with the rice cooker. So happy to hear you are pregnant!!! Good luck with your pregnancy. Get as much sleep as you can now, once the baby comes you will be so tired!! So many people told me that and boy were they right!!!