Entirely Handmade Ravioli

Last night, I made homemade ravioli, loosely based on this recipe. 

Ingredients:

Ravioli Dough:
• 4 eggs, plus 2 eggs, beaten, for egg wash
• 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for dusting
• 1/2 cup water

Ricotta Cheese Filling:
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 6 oz. shredded mozzarella
• 2-3 Tbsp. sour cream
• Salt and pepper

Things I did NOT use to make these (I don't even own them!):
• Electric Mixer
• Pasta Machine
• Pastry Brush
• Ravioli Crimper

I started by making a little mountain of flour (3 cups), then forming a hole in the middle, like a little volcano. Then I cracked all 4 eggs into the middle. Using a fork, I whipped the eggs to break the yolks and started gradually pulling flour from the inside of the "volcano" to mix with the egg and thicken them up. I then slowly added the ½ cup of water until everything was mixed enough for me to work it with my hands.

The dough looked dry and lumpy at first, but I continued to roll and turn the dough on the counter until the ingredients were thoroughly combined.  I ended up with a nice moist, slightly sticky ball of dough.  I covered this with a damp cloth in a bowl and allowed it to sit for 30 minutes.

While I waited for the dough, I mixed the filling.  The original recipe was just the ricotta and egg mixture.  I decided I wanted it slightly creamy.  I used a thin cheese grater and shredded my mozzarella into the ricotta and egg.  That was slightly too thick, so I added just enough sour cream to get a little thinner consistency.  I placed that in the fridge until it was needed. You will see the filling in a later picture.

Next, I pulled about a third of my dough off the ball.  I tossed some flour on the counte, and dusted the dough ball.  Then I went to town with my rolling pin, flattening the dough, flipping, flouring and squashing, until I had a nice fairly thin sheet of dough.  Since I don't have a ravioli maker and I didn't have a nice perfect rectangular sheet of dough from a pasta machine, I used the top of an "eye" shaped Tupperware container (at least Harley thought they were eyes) to press out the ravioli.  Using my fingers, I rubbed on a coat of egg wash.  Finally, I placed a heaping tablespoon of filling on each one, folded the corners over, squished out the air and sealed the edges by squeezing them between my fingers.

Meanwhile, on the stove, I had some water going at a steady boil.  I gently dropped the raviolis in the pot.  It said about 10-15 minutes to cook, but I think they cooked faster.  When they float to the top, they are done!  I used a slotted spoon to pull them out.  Coated them with some pasta sauce and turkey burger, some grated Parmesan/Romano mix on top and let the kids dig in!

It wasn't the prettiest ravioli, but it was yummy and the kids both asked for seconds!  Scott loved it too and had seconds (which he regretted, because he was too full after).  That didn't stop him from eating leftover cheesecake that I brought to work.  :)

Revealing...

I really want to share some information, but first I have a story as to why I am sharing it.

Many may know, I have set certain goals for weight loss and to run a half marathon in September.  I've been feeling really good about my body image lately.  Am I satisfied?  NO.  Do I feel much better about myself?  YES.  My clothes are looser, I have seen the pounds come off and the inches, and just getting out and being more active is great for my self-esteem.  I feel like, I don't look like I want to, but screw you if you think I don't look good, because I know that I'm working on it and getting closer every day to where I want to be, so I FEEL like a million freaking bucks.

On Sunday, I let someone take that feeling away from me.

We were having kind of an impromptu 4th of July/housewarming celebration.  I cooked Saturday and got up early to work out Sunday, came home and cooked some more.  Later during dinner, the shorts I was wearing were falling down because I've slimmed down a bit and people noticed they were baggier so I felt really good.

After dinner and a lot of people left, we were hanging around until it was time for fireworks.  I decided to try on a pair of jeans I've been saving from high school that are one size smaller than I currently wear.  They were a little snug, but I felt like after wearing them for a few minutes and sitting down, they loosened up a tad and I was more comfortable.  I was so excited!

We went to the fireworks and while waiting a bunch of us were sitting in the back of a friend's truck.  I'm acquainted with him through Scott and we have talked and joked before.  I don't know if he was trying to be mean or not, he's a little younger than I and may having been showboating for the teenage girls hanging around, but he said a couple of comments about my size.

The one I distinctly remember was, "I think we may be exceding the weight limit for my truck... maybe if Addie wasn't in it!" 

Now, I have always been a bigger girl.  I will NEVER be a size 2.  I'm cool with that.  I literally don't think my bone structure would even allow for me to be that small.  I remember comments like this from high school, middle school, elementary school.  Basically, I felt all of that flooding back to me.  I just walked away and went to sit by Scott.  He knew something was wrong, but that's a separate story.  I didn't want to make a big deal of it.

I was so close to curling up in a ball and crying.  I felt awful and in that moment, I didn't want to be there anymore.  Whether it was meant to hurt me or not, when you are literally the heaviest person and someone targets you, it doesn't feel funny.  If you say it to the twiggy little girl who weighs 100 pounds soaking wet, then it might be funny, because obviously she isn't weighing it down?  Get my point?

Anyway, this is why I am going to reveal my weight, my measurements and my pant size.  I don't want to be held back by these stupid numbers anymore.  I wanted to wait until the end to reveal everything, so that people wouldn't know these numbers while I was still living them.  I wanted to be small and say, "See where I came from!"  I don't care anymore!  I will not let these numbers or anyone hold me back.

I will not allow anyone to make me feel awful about myself again.

So here are the numbers...

  

UPDATE 1/26/12:  Where did 14 inches come from?  I just calculated and it should be 9.75.  WEIRD.

UPDATE 1/26/12 afternoon:  DUH, I have two arms and thighs, I doubled it.  BRAIN FART.  It still shouldn't be 14 though, should be 13 inches.

Progress

I cut 30 seconds off my mile today!  Woo!  Also, I ran for 27 minutes.

Let me back up a bit and talk about my goals for this weight loss revolution.

Almost a month ago, I decided to lose weight and be healthier.  It just clicked one day that I needed to stop putting off tomorrow and make it my mission TODAY.  I exercise better when I have a goal to work for...

GOAL:  HALF MARATHON on Sept. 18 in Lansing.
WEIGHT LOSS GOAL:  40 POUNDS or more by the race.

I was feeling a little sad the other day because I weighed myself and the decrease wasn't as much as I had hoped for.  I decided to take my measurements for the first time since day 1.

Thus far, my progress is...

WEIGHT LOSS: -8 pounds
NECK: -1 inch
UPPER ARM: -1 inch= 2 inches total
BUST: - 0.5 inch
WAIST: -1 inch
HIPS: -0.5 inch
THIGH: -1 inch = 2 inches total
CALF: - 0.5 inch = 1 inch total

That means I have lost 8 pounds and 7 inches from my body.

I have had many people notice my pants are looser.  I put them on this morning after washing and drying and I didn't even have to shimmy them on!  My belt is on the last loop and it's a little loose.

It's hard for me to get out of bed early and get to the gym, but I feel so great after I go!

Healthy(-er) Lifestyle Update

No, this doesn't have to do with photography, but I haven't made much time for photography lately.  This is what I have been up to... training for a half marathon!


Basically, about 3.5 weeks ago, I decided to make a lifestyle change.  This included, joining a gym, watching my caloric intake and getting outside more.

This is difficult for me for a few reason...
1.  I don't like being outside, there are bugs and birds.
2.  I don't like to cook.
3.  I have two little boys; 2 and 3 years old.
4.  I am not a morning person.
5.  I LOVE FOOD.

So I had to address the issues...

There are bugs in everyone's house, no matter how hard they clean, so I might as well get outside and be more active.

Cooking doesn't have to be a big fancy production.  Turkey burger patties are yummy and low in calories, same as turkey bacon.  Both cook up quick.  Chicken doesn't take that long either.  Fruit is quick, and I have choices.

Two little ones make it more difficult to get to the gym and to cook good meals instead of getting quick fast food a few nights a week.

If I don't get up in the morning and start my day with exercise, I probably won't get to it later.  It's a fact.  I work from 8-5 and then I come home, take care of kids, sometimes I have events to attend during the week like my brother's baseball games, by the time I get home, it's time for a quick bite and get the kids to bed.  My husband has been working 12 hour+ days, so it's pretty much just me.  Thankfully, I have a good support system and my mother-in-law and sister-in-law help me out with the kids so I can do some things for me, like go to the gym before work!

I can still eat whatever I want, I just have to learn control over portions.  Keeping foods in their natural state with a little seasoning (love pepper!) tastes great too.  I love fresh broccoli baked in the oven with some EVOO and seasoning.  If I find things that are low in calories that I love, I can eat more of them.

And later... I'll write about why I decided to go for the half marathon and my other goals, as well as how my changes have rubbed off on my family.