In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet asks, “Wherefore art thou Romeo?” She’s not asking where is Romeo; she’s asking why is he Romeo. Their families are sworn enemies, and if he had any other name, their love would not be star-crossed nor make their parents cross. Shakespeare would have no tragedy to tell. So, why am I in pain is a much better question than where am I in pain.
Why ask why? Because, with EDS, pain is generally par for the course. It will happen nearly everywhere, whether in your joints, muscles, organs…anywhere your defective tissue goes, and it goes….everywhere. No need to truly ask where, and doctors definitely don’t want to know more than ONE where. They won’t discuss all your pains, just your worst at the moment. Obviously they can’t deal with more than one pain, why should I? 😛
But really, I ask myself why so I can understand cause and effect. Clearly I know where the pain sharpens its claws. But, why is it clawing its way through [insert your where]?
Example, the where of my recent pain–between back of the neck and shoulder–didn’t exactly give me any reason to consider anything other than my neck or shoulder. I have both cervical and shoulder instability. The where didn’t help me, or Shane, or my son, resolve my pain, though. My son had even reset my shoulder, much to his dismay (“gross” was his exact reaction), but I still hurt. However, my physical therapist knew why I hurt there. Turns out my second rib was lifted, most likely from me lifting the boxes for my move to the camper. In the summer, he had already treated me for the subluxation of my second rib after I’d gone to the gun range with Shane (metal dueling trees are so fun! DING!). The recoil from trying a larger caliber rifle actually pushed my rib backwards. During that event, the ligament that holds the second rib on my right side had become stretched and will not spring back to a natural taut state. It’s forever overstretched, and now my second rib is forever hypermobile.
That’s part of the why too. Why does injury to a joint lead to recurrent injury?
And here’s where we get into genetics and physiology. A faulty gene caused a defect in my collagen, the protein that adds flexibility and strength to connective tissues. With weakened or insufficient collagen, my connective tissue cannot support my muscles, joints, organs, or other tissues (think bleeding gums, think my perpetually swollen left foot because the fragile tissues are leaking). Hence, I am “loosey-goosey” as my ortho said. “Wibbly wobbly” as one physical therapist said. Laxity leads to hypermobility; hypermobility leads to inflammation (pain), arthritis (pain), and tears (pain). It fundamentally answerswherefore art thou in pain?
So, why am I in pain today? I hiked a difficult trail yesterday. I haven’t trained my brain well enough yet to be more mindful during the steep ascents and descents. See, ever since my hip surgery for FAI impingement, I feel a clicking in the back of the hip with certain movements. Hours later I’ll feel pain. My physical therapist had assigned an exercise that elicited this click and pain response, an abnormal response in his experience. He’d spent a half hour trying to determine the why. In his opinion, though without MRI confirmation, he suspects a tear in the tendon because the femoral head slips slightly out of the hip socket. My joke is the extra bony growth the surgeon removed had been holding my hip into place. 😛 Regardless, I’m bound for a hip replacement someday. 😦 What am I’m getting at is I’m supposed to avoid any movement, such as a hip extension or deep flex-extensions, that will exacerbate the possible tear. When I climb stairs, I’m supposed to “put my head in my butt.” 🙂 Not literally. I need to concentrate on tightening the glutes, pulling my abs in, and holding my pelvis straight. On the trail, I need to do the same as well as lead with my left when I ascend and lead with my right when I descend. Except I wasn’t 100% in keeping to the measures to protect the joint. Now I feel the angry clawing at the back of my hip, and would probably welcome the entire leg being ripped off.
Sitting with this pain kills me. Resting with this pain kills me. It’s like adding fire ants to the wound.
I have fire ants in my pants. 😛
At least I accidentally popped my second rib back into place with an impressive pop! That’s one less pain. Just wish I knew how I reset it. That’s the crux of it all!
Still, I loved my time chasing waterfalls. I’m pretty sure the way down to view Breakneck Falls is the main reason why I hurt. I felt the sink of claws then.
Breakneck Falls. McConnell’s Mill State Park.
One caveat: sometimes you do need to ask where. For me, the only pertinent where question is where is my TMJ disc? My oral surgeon nor the physical therapist I saw for TMJ dysfunction (disc dislocation, closed lock, limited mouth opening) know where it is. Therefore, without knowing where, they cannot know the how. As in how to possibly fix it.
After a month and a half of living full-time in a 15ft. camper, I know what I miss and don’t miss about my previous standard of living. You could probably guess some but be surprised by others. If you’re curious about how I feel about this new adventure, read on!
What I Miss…
Spaciousness: I miss freely moving around. I dislike bumping into everything and knocking things over all the time. Though bumping into Shane means more hugs, kisses, slaps on the butt, and other goofing around. 🙂 Our things are too cramped, and we have to limit the things. What things we have are perpetually in the way. Shane loves the downsizing. He feels the expansion of freedom with the decompression of space and stuff. Me? I miss some of my things…all my books, creepy decor, candle holders, pictures, the things that I feel define me. I prefer open rooms, large kitchen and bath, high ceilings, and the ability to move around. You know, a Gothic mansion. Lol I can’t even do most of my physical therapy exercises because of the lack of space. At least I’m not claustrophobic. Lol
Family and Friends: Little more needs said about this. I have no family or friends nearby, except Shane. Though an older gentleman has befriended us. The only good thing is I’m an extreme introvert bordering on hermithood so it doesn’t really impact me as much as it would others. As my good friend Lisa says, I’m “socially selective.” I like to say I’m a stereotypical socially inept writer. 🙂
Indian restaurants: I miss our favorite Indian restaurant, Indian Spice Train. However, we did indulge ourselves during our visit home. Paneer 65, spice level 10! YUM! The closest Indian restaurant is in Pittsburgh about an hour or longer away. But we haven’t yet ventured to the big city.
Convenience: The closest grocery stores, retail stores, and entertainment are 20-30 minutes away. At our house, I could walk to the store, save gas, and reduce my carbon footprint. Not here, and due to lack of space, I have to grocery shop often. My physical therapist is 5.5 hours away. If I partially dislocate my pelvis again, I’ll probably have to go to the hospital, which is a half hour away. Except my PT says I won’t receive the right care in a hospital. Scary, huh?
Specialty products found only at home locale. I can’t find my protein powder, my low carb wraps, my magnesium supplements, Gold Star Chili spice packets, Dr. Praeger’s veggie burgers, etc where we’re currently staying. This means I have to stock up on home visits.
Private clean showers. Since our hot water heater is still broken (where’s the part you promised, Forest River?), we shower in the chilly campground facility. They haven’t cleaned them in the month and a half I’ve been there. Ew.
A real oven. The camper convection microwave oven is small and isn’t very good in my opinion. It seems to take twice as long to cook meals. Plus, for some reason it doesn’t melt and brown cheese. Unacceptable.
A warm toilet seat. Sitting down to pee shouldn’t elicit a yelp. Unless the toilet monster rises from the deep and bites your ass.
Feeling of Place. Since we’re temporary residents, we don’t have roots or any of the place attachments of a permanent home. We’re just visiting. As an environmental geographer, I understand the importance of place and the emotional/mental well-being associated with a sense of place in a particular space. However, I definitely love the place, all its natural beauty and opportunities for adventure.
What I Don’t Miss
City noise. I don’t hear hourly trains, horns, sirens, or neighbors yelling at each other. Nor do I hear a neighbor screaming for help because his drug-dealing brother ODed. I prefer the quiet of the country.
City congestion. Living in the middle of nowhere means hardly anyone on the roads. While drivers still pull out in front of you without stopping, they at least speed up most of the time. My stress levels have improved, and I enjoy driving.
City pollution. Due to higher population, more trash exists along the roadside in the city. Higher traffic volumes also mean higher emissions and smog. If people do one good deed for the environment and wildlife, they should not litter!
Angry people. We haven’t encountered a single road-rager, raving junkie, abusive arguing couple, or any other nasty behaving individual. Not saying they don’t live in the middle of nowhere, just we’re not witnessing those behaviors. The people may just be nicer because the landscape is nicer. Maybe they don’t air that sense of entitlement to engage in disrespectful or inconsiderate public action because someone probably knows them in a small town. Not quite anonymous. I like decent folk, even if they’re putting on a public face.
Ugly landscape. I prefer wild landscapes to urban landscapes, so I absolutely love the Wanderful Life because of where we’re at. I feel more energized, relaxed, inspired, and peaceful because of my surroundings. The trees are happier here, and there are way more trees than people. Can’t say that at all about home.
Stress. See all the above. 🙂
For me, the best thing about The Wanderful Life is wandering into wonder. I live more in awe now. It truly is wonderful. ❤
Our friends who joined us at our favorite Indian restaurant during our visit asked Shane if he enjoyed living here in a camper. Without a second’s thought, he blurted, “Hell yeah! I absolutely love it!”
I think that sums it up well. 🙂 We love it because we see the bigger picture–how the Wanderful Life gifts us those moments that take your breath away and quickens your pulse; how our cramped camper is merely the resting spot during our adventures, where two hearts beat for each other and dream of a future homestead. Home is where the heart is, and I found a heart here…
I have an additional cooking theme besides vegetarian and healthy. It’s “Shane loves this!” 🙂 I love to cook, and Shane loves what I cook because “it’s made with love.” He swears he can taste it, and it’s delicious.
Tonight I’m making spinach stuffed shells. As I gathered my I ingredients, I realized I didn’t bring any basil or oregano or marjoram or parsley or any Italian blend of spices! I also forgot to buy the fresh mozzarella balls. *sigb* I blame my headache. But, nonetheless, dinner will be fine anyway. I would recommend you not leave out the spices or fresh mozzarella balls though.
Other than those mentioned, you’ll need jumbo pasta shells, one egg, bag of shredded mozzarella, tub of spinach, 15 ounce tub of ricotta cheese (the Giant Eagle doesn’t carry the Organic Valley or Kroger’s Simple Truth brands), and your favorite tomato sauce. I prefer a homemade tomato sauce with red wine and fresh basil but no fresh homegrown tomatoes available in February, and fresh jarred sauce never lasts too long in the pantry!
While you boil the shells, steam your spinach. While your spinach steams, beat the egg in a bowl then mix in the ricotta. If you didn’t forget your spices or chopped fresh mozzarella, sprinkle and dump those in now and stir.
Squeeze out the excess water from your spinach and add it to the ricotta mixture. Stir it all together for a beautiful swirl.
Only cook the shells until al dente (cooked but with firm texture). They’ll retain their shape when stuffing them and will cook further in the sauce.
You’ll fill half your pan or Corning bakeware (I can’t fit a 9×13 pan) with sauce. If you want saucier shells, you can cook the rest on the stove and ladle more on your plate.
Drain the shells and allow them to cool before handling them. I have the coolest pot. It has its own colander lid! No need to store a space greedy straining bowl.
Ahem..back to your regular scheduled recipe. 🙂
Spoon in as much spinach ricotta mixture as you can into your shells.
Place as many as you can into the saucy cauldron. Then wash your hands. 🙂
Top with shredded mozzarella cheese. The whole bag. Don’t chintz on cheesy goodness.
In a convectional oven, you need to elevate your dish so the warm air can circulate beneath it for even cooking. A convection microwave oven has a fan and exhaust system a conventional oven does not. Supposedly this means shorter cooking times. Also if you’re looking at recipes for conventional ovens, you need to set the temperature 25*F lower for convection ovens.
I’m not sure if that’s 100% true for my tiny camper convection microwave oven. I feel like I have to cook things longer. Maybe it’s the size of the fan and amps that matter. Size matters. 😉
Conventional recipes say to bake at 350* for 30 minutes. I always bake until cheese is very brown. I think that’s longer than 30 minutes. More like 45-60. This is why fresh mozzarella stuffed in the shells is divine. You get both velvety gooey cheese and the crunchy cheese we like. Each to their own! I mean I ❤ burnt chocolate chip cookies too. LOL
But our camper’s convection microwave oven doesn’t like to melt and brown the cheese. Not even after an hour and a half! So much for 3 times faster. Seems to be our unique problem. But this is the second u satisfactory cheese melting. Problem with our camper’s unit since we have problems with its water heater, TV DVD player, seams…? Not sure, but it’s frustrating.
But it still tasted good. I missed the fresh mozzarella balls, but Shane didn’t notice. Guess that’s a plus. I wonder how the spinach stuffed shells would turn out in the Instant Pot? Hmmmm…
Ingredients
Jumbo shells (9 for my Corning casserole dish)
Half jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
Fresh spinach
15 ounce tub of ricotta
1 egg
Italian spices
Fresh mozzarella balls
Shredded mozzarella (optional)
Bake at 325*F (350*F conventional oven) for 30 minutes. Serve with garlic bread.
Yet, another problem with full-time camper living in a travel trailer not built for all seasons. #cursing
I just cleaned all the mold off the cushions around the bed. I’m guessing this is why we’re feeling so poorly. Shane’s having nighttime asthma attacks; I’m dealing with allergies and terrible headaches (but then it’s raining, so I have more triggers than I can handle).
I used my homemade cleaner–1 part vinegar, 1 part water, orange-oil infused by soaking orange peels in the mixture for a day. It’s a non-toxic, cheap, natural bacteria, germ, and MOLD killer. I highly recommend you ditch store cleaners and make your own effective cleaner. Simply save an old empty spray bottle and refill as needed. However, I need a new sprayer. Seems those old ones only last 4 years. 🙂
I have removed all the side cushions but can’t remove the bottom cushions because of the mattress. At the moment, I’m drying out the cushions and the walls. We have a very small space heater for this purpose.
I hope I killed all the mold. Cleaning has got me sneezing. I am literally allergic to cleaning. 🙂
I hope now we’ll feel better. And since running the electric heater and the dehumidifier didn’t keep mold from growing in the hidey places, I’m going to remove the cushions every day, preferably at night so air circulates and moisture can evaporate. But if not night, then definitely morning. It just means I probably have to dry or clean the cushions again. We’ll see what we do. This Wanderful Life is all an experiment anyway! Just don’t really want the camper to be the test tube.
I write this as I wait for my emergency headache medication to kick in. I hate taking Relpax because it makes my head feel as if someone’s smeared MaxFreeze (or Icy Hot, or Biofreeze, or Bengay, or whatever icy burning cream you know) all over my brain; it makes my already aching body hurt all over; and it makes me yawn incessantly if I don’t nap. Basically I’ll only take Relpax if the pain’s gotten to the point I can’t bear it. I can’t bear it today.
And I can bear a lot of pain.
I have dealt with severe chronic (as in unrelenting, 24-7, every single second of every single day of every single moment) pain since I was 16 years old. At the time my headaches began, I ended up in bed for two weeks, waiting for the pain to end. But, I realized there was only one way to end the pain.
No child should have to decide if life’s worth living. I had three choices: kill myself, stay in bed and never have a life anyway, or get up and just live despite the pain that made me want to die.
That’s my life. Living with a pain that makes me want to die except I want to live. Vicious circle, you see? Every day then is my choice to live. Every day is a choice to bear the pain.
I have Hemicrania Continua, a rare trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias class of chronic headache. The name itself literally means “one sided headache.” It feels like demons hammering railroad ties from both the outside and inside of my skull at a focal point on my right side. Sometimes I wonder if I stabbed my skull or bashed my head through a window or through a wall, if that would make the demons stop.
However, my HC doesn’t mind definitions and spreads to my eyes, the other side of my head, my neck, my spine. As a research participant for a University of Texas and Headache Center study, I know from the screening process that I’m an anomaly within an anomaly. A unicorn zebra.
No cure exists. Barely any treatment options exist. You just have to exist with the extreme pain and keep your exacerbating triggers to a minimum. Unfortunately I can do nothing about the weather. My hypothesis is “low pressure outside my skull equals high pressure inside my skull.” That, and low pressure systems reduce the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere, but my brain wants more oxygen. It dumps serotonin as a response, and this triggers the trigeminal nerve, which triggers the inflammatory and pain response. Viola! And I have to wait for the Relpax to numb my demons.
My headache condition most likely stems from my other awful condition, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS). A known link between headaches, hypermobility, and EDS exists. A Google search will lead you to a plethora of information. Though, I wonder if my asymmetrical hypothalamus derived from my having EDS? My medical search for asymmetrical hypothalamus and headache uncovered a link between it and cluster headache, which is part of the class headache I have. I can’t find anything on EDS and asymmetrical hypothalamus.
As far as head pain goes, hemicrania continua is worse than cluster headache, which is worse than migraine, which is worse than tension. And I have multiple headaches. I have my primary headache HC, plus secondary migraine headaches (classic with aura and hormonal), plus I wouldn’t doubt cervical instability and TMJ dysfunction also contribute to head pain. It wouldn’t even help if I had a head transplant. I need a new body because of the joint pain and damage. Or gene therapy to correct for the defective connective tissue genes.
Except no cure exists for EDS either. Barely any treatment options exist either. I just have to exist with the pain.
Don’t be angry, but I wish you could feel my worst pain for at least 15 minutes. I always joke it would be the greatest biological weapon–it would flatten nations. Nobody could function. I couldn’t at first. It took me weeks to get out of bed, and the rest of my life to try to cope.
But cope I have. It’s why I can have a Wanderful Life and not just an Awful Life. Even though, HC and EDS both qualify me for disability. I might have an invisible disability, but I am not disabled.
I don’t know what it is about me that enables me to live and live well with the pain.
Maybe it’s the Happy Gene? Not all my genes are bad.
Maybe it’s my coping mechanisms. I eat anti-inflammatory foods, low-carb, gluten-free, vegetarian. I drink plenty of water and herbal tea (mint tea may lessen the pain). I exercise. I try to get plenty of sleep. I self-soothe and do as much that brings me pleasure as I can. Pleasure > pain. That’s the philosophy.
Maybe it’s my stubbornness. I refuse to let the pain stop me–though sometimes the pain wins, and I’m confined to bed, writhing and withering away. I might be a unicorn donkey instead of zebra.
Maybe it’s my strength people say I have. I can bear a lot of pain. When it’s all you know, pain is normal. So my pain level 5 might be your 0. My pain scale operates on varying degrees of worse, and I haven’t seen 0 in over 34 years. Some women fantasize about wearing size 0 pants. I’d trade my size 0, 2, and 4 pants for 0 pain.
But that’s not the choice I’ve been given.
I think I cope and live well because I know it will feel more bearable; I will experience pleasure, love, and joy too. Those moments can eclipse the pain. It’s like reading….you disappear into another world and your reality waits. I think that’s what enables me to live a Wanderful Life. I lose myself in the wonderful moments and ignore the awful. Mostly. Sometimes I feel it too acutely to escape the pain, and then I wonder if making brain splatter art against the wall would help…
Only the very back of my head hurts now. I probably should take another Relpax since one didn’t fully work. But I think I’ll just bear it because I know I can. I’d rather not deal with the chest constriction that occurs with a second dose.
Choices. We don’t really have them do we? Otherwise, I choose not to have HC and EDS. But I’m SOL.
Warm, sweet, spicy, melty, cheesy, decandace, these apple brie quesadillas will satisfy your inner gourmet. Better yet, the only complexity of this delicacy is the taste! Cooking is super easy and quick. Only skills you need are knife wielding and skillet watching. 🙂
An apple and brie pairing verges on perfection, the sweet mingling with savory, the crisp punctuating the velvety cream, the acidic tartness biting into buttery nuttiness. Mmmmm! In other universal words. 🙂
These quesadillas are healthy too.
With 6g of protein and 8g of fat per ounce, brie packs a lot of energy, provides all the amino acids necessary to maintain your body, and has essential fats to reduce diabetes. It’s also low in carbs but high in vitamins A, B, and D and minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, and zinc (enables your cells to better uptake trace minerals such as manganese and copper). Considering you’re a skeleton wearing a meat wrap, your bones will thank you. 🙂 Nutrients in Brie
Apples are the superheroes of the food world. They keep the doctor away. 🙂 With a wealth of vitamins, especially vitamin C and the complex B’s, phytnutrients, and fiber, they accomplish the tasks of improving heart and neurological health and reducing risks for diabetes, breast cancer, and high cholesterol. Just make sure you eat the peel for the antioxidants and fiber. If you suffer diabetes or insulin resistance, you do need to limit apple consumption. Half of a small apple is 15g. Apple Health Benefits
For the apple brie quesadillas, I recommend Pink Lady or Ambrosia varieties. We found those superior to Honeycrisp. I haven’t tried Granny Smith apples, but I imagine its distinctive bite would complement the nutty brie.
Spinach serves as another nutritional superhero that keeps the doctor away. The leafy green contributes to skin, hair, bone, heart, eye, digestive, endocrine, and respiratory health due to all the vitamins and minerals packed into a cup. Spinach Health Benefits While you may know this, did you know a decimal error led to the myth spinach would increase your strength? Popeye downed a can of spinach in the carton to ramp up for his fights with Bluto. But spinach only provides 3.5mg of protein per 100g. Not 35mg! Popeye would’ve needed to chug 10 cans, assuming 8 ounce can.
The only other ingredient in the apple brie quesadillas is some kind of jam or sauce. Usually I prefer a hot pepper jam, but we didn’t have any in the camper. That’s a luxury for the house with lots of refrigerator space. However, we had the mango coconut habanero sauce I discovered I ❤ in the baked burritos, which I will post on later.
The steps, as I mentioned, are simple. Wield a knife. Scrape off the brie’s rind if you’re like me and don’t quite like it. If you have no qualms, then slice the brie thinly, no more than quarter of an inch. Cut your apple in half and the half into 1/2 inch wedges. You’ll need to cut away core bit and seeds if you didn’t core your apple. That’s all the knife wielding you’ll do.
Note on the tortilla. If you need to control your carbohydrate intake, then I recommend Ole’s Xtreme Wellness high fiber. It has 5 net grams of carbs. Shane has no restrictions and just wants the biggest quesadilla or burrito he can have. 😛
You’ll heat your tortilla on a large skillet. You can heat both sides or only one–depends on how soft or crunchy you want your quesadilla. Whatever side is your inside, place brie on one half, then top with apples.
On the other half, spread your hot jam/compote/relish/sauce. Add your spinach.
Check other side of quesadilla for browning and remove when crisped to your preference and brie has softened (or melting onto pan). Flip spinach half over. The quesadilla will slide off pan easily but guide it with a spatula.
Ingredients
One round of brie, sliced thinly
One apple (Pink Lady or Ambrosia), sliced, cored
Hot pepper jam
2 tortillas
Word of caution: these are delicious but messy! The brie may ooze. An apple wedge may slip out. It might have gourmet taste, but it’s like kindergarten, where you can finger paint. 🙂
It’s so worth needing a napkin and handwashing. Finger licking good! Mmmmmm! Tryyyyy ittttt!
Shane describes the stuffed peppers I make as “divine”. 🙂 I’ve experimented with different variations on the “stuffing”, but every single stuffed pepper pleases! Therefore, feel free to adapt ingredients to your liking.
Bell peppers taste delicious raw (I love slicing them to dip into hummus), cooked (like this recipe, especially), roasted, turned into spicy harissa sauce (I’ll have to share what I do with harissa in the future), and dried into a spice (paprika). They’re low in carbs (one medium bell pepper has 7g), high in vitamin C, vitamins B6 and B9, beta carotene (vitamin A), and antioxidants. Since they pack quite the nutritional punch, you should definitely center meals around the colorful vegetables! Eat the rainbow! Health Benefits of Bell Peppers
This is my first attempt at making stuffed peppers in our camper’s convection microwave oven. It’s small, so I could only make 4 instead of the 6 or 8 I normally make. With this recipe, you’ll have half of the stuffing left. Either make more stuffed peppers another night or use the filling for tacos the next night like we did.
You’ll want to prep your peppers by cutting off the tops and pulling out the septum, seeds, and placental region. Don’t fret if any remain. To quicken the roasting time, you should steam your peppers for 3-8 minutes, depending on how soft you want your peppers to eat. I dribble a bit of water in the pepper cups then microwave them.
Note: try to select the most round shaped peppers. They’ll stand better and hold more filling.
In the past, I’ve used vegetarian refried beans, queso, Mexican style shredded cheese, black beans, pineapple chunks, corn, jalapeno peppers, onions, variety of salsas, and Quorn crumbles. You could use rice too, but rice has too many carbs for me.
For vegan options, you would omit the dairy altogether or replace with non-dairy cheese (I like Almond cheese). You’ll need to replace the Quorn crumbles with Beyond Beef crumbles or soy crumbles because Quorn products have egg whites.
For this recipe, I used the Quorn crumbles, onions, a whole jar of hot habanero mango salsa, corn, mango jack cheese and spices (paprika, chili, garlic, and cayenne pepper). Beware, it’ll be SPICY HOT. To tone down the spice level, replace the jack cheese and salsa with milder choices. To amp the spice level, mince habanero or jalapeno peppers and put in a shot of your favorite hot sauce, like my Ultra Death Sauce.
While the peppers steam, you’ll saute your chopped onions until golden and tender. Add your meat alternative crumbles and cook until done. If you’re using frozen corn, you’ll cook those before adding. Add the rest of the ingredients, except the cheese, stir.
I like to sandwich the cheese, layering first with cheese, then the stuffing mixture, then topping with cheese.
The cheese we used can only be found (as far as we know) at Jungle Jim’s, a large international grocer back home.
Bake your stuffed peppers at 375*F (400*F for conventional ovens) for 30 minutes, or until cheese melts.
Ingredients
Red, yellow, orange peppers (4, or more if you have a larger oven)
2 tbs olive oil
Chopped onion (quarter)
Quorn crumbles (whole bag)
Corn (1/2 c- 1c)
1 tsp each of cumin, cayenne pepper, chili, and garlic
Jar of salsa
Cheese (as much or as little as you like. I used the entire round)
Bake at 375*F for 30 minutes.
Serve with a side of rice, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, or refried beans. Enjoy!!
Hiking in winter is peaceful and beautiful, and sometimes dangerously cold. If you visit any specialty hiking shop, you’ll find a plethora of technical cold-weather gear for men. Not so much for women. While the industry has started to recognize an untapped source of profit from women adventurers, it seriously lags behind and doesn’t help the female hiker who wants to venture outside in the cold right now!
Your winter hiking goal is to enjoy snowy trails and vistas without freezing like the water. Right?
Well, from one Wander Woman to another, I’m going to share my tried-and-true tips on how to save your body heat and your bank account. I’ve hiked in single-digit temperatures without ever feeling cold or even chilled. A couple days I’ve taken off my coat because of the too-much layering and heat generated from wandering into wintry wonder.
Trust my advice. As I’m typing inside a warm room, I have cold fingers. If I’ve found a way to stay warm outside in winter, then it’s a miracle. 😛
Let’s start at the bottom. Your bottom, to be precise.
Wear moisture-wicking underwear and bra.
Why wicking? Simple. You’ll sweat in all seasons, and you want to wick the moisture away from your body. In the winter, you need warmth, and any bit of moisture will rob you of warmth at the very least. At the worst, you could succumb to hypothermia if you fall on the ice, break your leg, and spend the night in the woods. It can happen.
Furthermore, to be blunt, you don’t want bacterial growth and odor. Cotton underwear and bras will retain the moisture, and you’ll feel unhygienic. You want to feel dry and comfortable, with no chafing either as you hike.
As for what’s comfortable, you may have different ideas, but I prefer no tags, no wires, no constriction. I also prefer a price more comfortable for my wallet. The cost for underwear specifically designed for athletic women can range from $9 to $40 for a single pair, sports bra $6 to $80 (or more).
I couldn’t find reasonably priced hiking underwear at first and bought a pack of Reebok bikinis. However, I find all the behind material uncomfortable. I don’t like my bottom pinched. But recently I shopped Kohl’s after-Christmas sale and scored on three pair of Maidenform sport thongs and two Bali’s Comfort Revolution Confortflex Fit bras, although not labeled as a sports bra. I ❤ them and can’t even tell I’m wearing either on the trail. 🙂
Clean-keeping. Comfortable. Cute.
Wear a moisture-wicking thermal base layer.
I tend to feel cold unless it’s over 70*F. Base layers keep me outside for longer periods of time and will keep all you Wander Women on the snowy trails. While you’ll find a lot of great recommendations for technical base layers, Smartwool, Merino wool, and the like, I’ve actually discovered my favorite base layer is a set of Cuddl Duds ClimateRight Plush Warmth (polyester-spandex blend, moisture wicking). They’re warmer than the fleece and the Omni-Heat pairs I’ve tried. Unlike wool, these can tumble in the dryer without shrinking, and you can find a pair for $9 instead of $100. I shouldn’t have to spend a fortune to take advantage of a free activity!
Cuddl Duds ClimateRight Plush (I have a grey-black striped set as well)
Cuddl Duds Fleece
Columbia’s Omni-Heat
Wear an insulating middle layer.
Insulating middle layers range in thickness, but thicker/puffier equates to warmer, and any synthetic, fleece, wool, or down material will do to insulate you. For my insulating middle layer, I choose a thick fleece pullover to keep warm. Others may opt for a down jacket. Note: with fleece, you may need a wind stopper because of its high breathability (keeps you dry!). I found 2 of my fleece pullovers at Columbia’s Outlet Store. $25 bargains. 🙂
Wear wind/rain/snow protective outer layer
Here’s where I’ve learned from my winter hiking. I don’t need my heavy winter coat, except when the temperatures drop to single digits. My synthetic down jacket (which I unfortunately left at home and will have to grab when I visit soon) would probably work best on cold days and provide the water-resistance needed on snowfall hikes. Sometimes, when it’s not snowing, it’s snowing in the forest as wind blows snow from the treetops. 🙂
You’ll need to decide if you want a water-resistant or waterproof shell. Waterproof means you might sweat, and remember you could die of hypothermia if you’re wet and chilled. My rain jacket says breathable, but it’s not, and I ended up drenched on the inside while hiking in Denali National Park. Luckily I visited when the temperatures didn’t go below 50*F and my layers were moisture-wicking and dried quickly. Hence, another good thing about moisture-wicking fabrics.
On every snowy, cold hike, I’ve worn my snow pants, which are windproof, waterproof, and insulated. I wear my single base layer beneath and feel super warm. Now, if I sit on a snowy bench for long, I will feel the cold. But, hiking, best thing ever! Quite a few times I’ve slid down an incline, or kneeled for a picture. Definitely needed the snow pants. 🙂 Since I’m rather tiny, I lucked into finding a pair in Cabela’s boy’s section. The price is $20 cheaper than adult pairs. Score 1 for being short!
Waterproof. Warm. Wanderful.
On days when the temperatures aren’t in the freezing range, I wear my Kuhl’s Klash pants. They’re resistant to wind, water, and abrasions! Not to mention, ALL THE POCKETS!!! Funny, I shouldn’t be excited about 5 pockets in pants. 😛 And, yes, I splurged on these pants–$140. Sometimes I do pay for pockets, performance, and durability. I ❤ their streamlined look (zippers for ALL THE POCKETS) and the flexibility of the material, and they do provide warmth with or without a base layer. In addition, the bottom of the pant legs hook to your hiking boots so they won’t hike up while you hike.
The point of layering is you can remove or add layers as you hike, feel warm/cold, sweaty, etc. Carry a backpack to stuff your layers when not worn.
Gear your head, hands, and feet for warmth
I hit the trifecta jackpot when it comes to protecting my head, hands, and feet against frigidity and frostnip.
For my head, I wear three layers on the coldest days. I have an Omni-Heat wrap that fits snug against my ears, an Omni-Heat hat, and a wool face mask. I look like a forest gnome. 🙂 I also apply sunscreen and lip balm.
When I get too warm, I can pull the mask down and use as a neck gator.
Never in my life have my fingers been warm in the winter until I found my Cabela’s Gore-Tex Thinsulate Youth gloves. Even if I have frost-nippy fingers (because my old phone camera didn’t have voice activation and I kept taking my gloves off), I put these gloves on, and my fingers warm up quickly. I highly recommend you find a pair of the highest cold-weather rated gloves you can find. You can always pack thinner gloves if you feel too warm. When I feel too warm, I just clip the gloves together and hike without.
I pack hand and feet warmers in my backpack for emergencies. You should too. Be aware of the signs for hypothermia and frostbite.
My feet too have never been warmer in the winter. I ❤ ❤ ❤ my Columbia snow hiking boots–the omni-heat technology warms my toes; the omni-grip tread technology keeps me on my toes!
You could strap on snow shoes or traction cleats, if you wish. I haven’t yet tried either. Have you?
Pair your boots with thick wool socks (yes, now I recommend wool too). You won’t find cheap wool hiking socks. But it’s important to keep your toes.
Hike with Trekking Poles
The trekking poles serve a dual purpose for me: protecting my hypermobile joints by taking the weight off while I hike and by preventing me from falling. I’ve not fallen (yet) on the snowy and icy trails, but I have slid a bit. I also use my poles to test the ground I cannot see, especially if I’ve gone off trail.
Carry Food, Water, Whistle, Compass, Hand/Feet Warmers, Emergency Blanket/Shelter, Inhaler, Medical Kit, Anything in Case of an Emergency.
You’re supposed to stay well hydrated, and people forget to drink in the winter because you’re not hot and sweaty (at least you don’t think you are). You need fuel, none-the-less, for the activity. Hiking in the snow requires more effort. Hiking in the snow may increase your chance of an accident because of the slippery surface, because you can’t see the jutting rocks or roots beneath. Therefore, you need to prepare for an accident. Hope one never happens but plan to survive if one does. Furthermore, snow covers the existing trail and you may wander off it. A compass and map will help you find your way. Luckily I’ve had cellular service while hiking in Moraine State Park and McConnell’s Mill State Park, and I can use my All Trails app to double-check my bearings if a trail isn’t well-marked with colorful blazes. Only encountered one poorly marked trail, and yes I wandered a bit off. 🙂 Don’t forget you can follow your footprints back the way you came, unless you went in circles.
ALWAYS inform someone of your hiking plans.
In case of an accident or you’ve become lost in the woods, you’ll rest assured someone will contact the rangers with your likely whereabouts. Search parties won’t have to scout the entire Allegheny if you told someone you planned on hiking the Rimrock trail. Giving someone plenty of detailed information will enhance your chances of being located.
Hike Wisely
Hike easy to moderate trails. Now, this isn’t a hard and fast rule to abide by. You can challenge yourself as much you’d like, but if I know a trail is rated difficult in the summer, then I shy away from them in the winter. Your mileage, as they say, may vary. I prefer to err on the safe side.
Speaking of mileage, hike only the miles you can during daylight hours, preferably the warmest hours; turn around if you can’t complete a trail before dark. I tend to hike after lunch for two reasons: (1) I am aptly fueled and (2) the sun will have warmed the world a bit. A caveat aside, check the weather. Sometimes a cold front or storm can swoop in the afternoon, bringing colder temperatures than the morning. Cancel any hiking plans if your area will encounter dangerous wind chill.
That said, any trail that leads you uphill will amp your body temperature. So, if you’re cold, go up to warm up!
The silly tip: if you feel you’ll slide when you descend, sit on your bottom and scoot down. It’s better to lose face this way than if you fall.
When I first thought about cold and extreme cold weather hiking, I searched all the specialty shops for the right gear. Comparing what they offer men and offer women made me burn–it’s as if they want women warm in the kitchen and not outside. *grumble* I’m too small to fit into men’s clothing. The clothing I could find cost hundreds of dollars for less protection than men’s clothing. So, I ventured to find what would work for my budget and for the conditions, and believe I have discovered the Goldilocks of winter hiking wear and where! 🙂 Check out my previous blogs on my winter hikes!!
I hope my tips will help you stay warm and safe while hiking in winter. Now, excuse me while I go hike!
This day’s hiking adventure consisted of more than trails, which rank as some of the best forest, wetland, and eastern prairie day hikes near Pittsburgh. Who would’ve expected sugaring? Or passive wetland treatment of mining-polluted water? Or the interactive educational displays? Or the variety of birds at the feeders outside the center’s window (complete with microphone to listen)? I didn’t expect any of this. I’d stumbled into some kind of happy magical realm it seemed. Beyond the first trail sign, I felt as if I had stepped into Narnia, the fictional world gripped by the Hundred-Year Winter. This land too had its “Hundred-Year Winter”, except it had it three times as three different continental glaciers reached their extent in Pennsylvania. Learn more about the glacial history: Pennsylvania and the Ice Age
Downy WoodpeckerWhite-Breasted Nuthatch
Snow, not a glacier, covered the ground today. 🙂 I’ve become a fan of hiking in the snow. Easy trails, such as the Old Elm, Old Mill, Woodwhisper, Ridge, and Black Cherry I hiked, sport a bit of challenge at times. At times, just keeping your foot and balance on the trail. 😉 Signs and blazes guide you on your way. You could wander all day, to and fro, circling round the interconnecting loops. During my visit, I hiked about 2 miles.
I ❤ the snow-enchantments.
Though some parts of the trail were more marshy marching than tundra trailblazing. 🙂
And then I thought the trail had been closed. Colored tubes cut off the trail and crisscrossed through the forest. But, the sign informed me hikers could continue on the trail as long as you didn’t disturb the pipeline. Pipeline? For…
Sugaring. I’d learned a new term and technique to extract maple syrup from the trees. I couldn’t help but recall a scene from a horror movie, where these tendrils grew from the bushes and attached themselves to human sleepers to feed. The neon pipeline sparked my imagination, and I envisioned scenes for my third novel. I had some interesting things planned for my Winter Faerie Queen’s realm. It may involve sugaring and bloodletting, or maybe both. 😉
I had a rare treat to see the sugaring (to be punny). This activity only takes place from February to March, and I came upon it after they set it up. I’ll have to return in a few weeks to observe the amber flowing through neon veins. 🙂
My next pleasant surprise came in the form of a gazebo and the wetland it overlooked, all snowy and dormant at this time. Bird houses and bat houses sat amongst the cattail reeds and marsh grasses. However, the most interesting thing about this wetland was its structure: steppe-like. The structure whispers of its function as a natural, passive treatment system for mine drainage and improving water quality. Read more about it: Case Study of the Jennings System
The Jennings Environmental Education Center and Reserve was created to protect the rare prairie ecosystem, a glacial refugia and home to the endangered blazing star and massasauga rattlesnake, and to provide environmental and interpretation education to the community. Opportunities to conduct citizen science or formal class studies exist as well. Even before you set foot in the center, you’re enlightened. I knew about sugaring and the passive wetland treatment system merely by hiking, reading the signs, observing designs.
During my visit inside the center, two environmental educators took the time to explain their educational programs, their scope and mission, and even informed me, after five years of planning, the interactive displays were installed in October 2018. I ❤ the displays. My favorite is the wonderful video illustrating the link between the glaciations and the geology. Shame I can’t upload it. Guess you’ll have to visit the Jennings Environmental Education Center
However, I truly appreciated their conservation messaging.
Pollinator gardens attract butterflies and bees! Trees, shrubs, and grasses provide for bird nesting, foraging, and hiding. Your state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will list the native species and warn you about invasive species.I’m going to add in the other three rules of sustainability that reduce waste as well: REFUSE (ex: refuse to buy plastic water bottles and use a reusable water bottle), REPURPOSE, and REPAIR. “Only rain in the drain.” 🙂 If you drop an ice cube, put it in your pet’s water bowl or in a potted plant, or even at the base of a tree in your yard instead of putting it down the drain. Pick up litter! Litter ends up in our streams and harms water quality and wildlife.Unplug your unused electronics, such as your TV, gaming console, phone/tablet charger, etc. It still draws a charge even if not in use. Turn your thermostat down in the winter and up in the summer to save electricity.Put up feeders and water sources. Build a bat house–the bats will eat the insects you don’t want! 🙂 Skip fertilizing your lawn. If you must, opt for organic, non-toxic fertilizer. Learn how to landscape to attract wildlife. If you don’t have land, consider volunteering for a nature reserve to improve their habitat! 🙂
As I mentioned in a previous blog (Camper Cooking: Instant Pot Moroccan Lentil Stew [Vegetarian, Vegan Option]), I’m converting favorite stovetop recipes to make in the Instant Pot. Shane loves this soup and requests it fairly often. I’d say it’s a staple dinner in our home–try it for you and your family. Let me know if you liked it!
I do hope you’ll enjoy this simple, healthy, low-carb Zucchini Squash Corn Chowder. It’s more suited to cooler autumn than frigid winter, simply because on it’s own it’s not as hearty as most winter soups. Serve with whole grain crusty bread or throw in some potato chunks if you need filler. Still, the late summer soup warms you from the inside, and it was the perfect remedy to the ice outside the door and at the windows.
Save for spices, the recipe calls for only 6 ingredients: zucchini, yellow squash, corn, onion, vegetable broth, and cream. You don’t have to be limited if you prefer to include more. 🙂 I like the simplicity, the lower cost, and zucchini is nutritionally dense without much need for other vegetables. 17 Science Backed Health Benefits of Zucchini
I flavor the chowder with thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper–normally white pepper, but I didn’t pack it for the camper. Unfortunately I couldn’t bring all my spices. 😦 You could add basil, parsley, bay leaves, even dill for a unique ting or jalapeno for a kick.
First order of Instant Pot business is sauteing the onions in a few tablespoons of olive oil.
Once your onions look soft and golden, throw in the chopped zucchini and squash.
I like to nearly carmelize my vegetables, so I had to continually stir to avoid caramelizing the bottom of the pot. Cook at least until soft or let them cook in the broth. Your choice; you’re the chef!
When they reach their desired doneness for you, dump in the spices. I say dump because I didn’t use a measuring spoon. 🙂 When you’ve cooked for as long as I have and you create your own recipes, you forget to measure. It’s all by sight. Looks like enough! LOL I taste test as I cook. Though, I can’t quite do that with the Instant Pot once the lid locks on. Truly gambling with dinner now! 😉
Stir the spices and vegetables, then pour in the carton of vegetable broth (or at least 24-32 ounces of homemade broth). Next add the corn, as little or as much as you want. I prefer fewer to keep the carbs lower.
The next step can be skipped or modified for the vegan option. I use cream, sometimes as much as a cup. I only used about a quarter cup for this version because we didn’t have enough cream. No matter the amount the cream thickens and sweetens the chowder. If you skip, you’ll end up with a thinner, watery soup, which is fine, but it won’t be a chowder. For Vegans who want the creaminess but not the dairy, you can make cashew or almond cream. It’s easy to do in a blender or food processor. Soak cashews or almonds in water (few hours or overnight), drain, then add fresh water to blend smooth. Viola! Vegan cream. 🙂
After you add your dairy or non-dairy cream, stir and taste. Do you need to adjust your spices? Last chance until finished “souping” in the Instant Pot.
All good? Set the Instant Pot to the soup function, either on low or medium heat for 15 minutes.
Your Instant Pot will steam when complete. Don’t approach it! It’s like a baby dragon, no fire yet, but its steam will cook your face off.
Ladle chowder into bowls. Shane loves his with shredded cheddar cheese.
I’ve made low-carb cheddar crackers for the chowder in the past. All you do is drop rounds of shredded cheese on a parchment covered sheet and bake at 400 until cheese melts and browns into delicious crisps that taste amazing in the soup or as a snack. 🙂 I call them cheese crack. 🙂
Ingredients
Quarter of an onion, diced
2 zucchini, chopped
1 yellow squash, chopped
Spices: thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper (1-2 teaspoons maybe. I didn’t measure)
The Wanderful Life 