Nesting by Raechel.

To preface my nesting experiences, let me say this: I've never been extremely tidy. Though my Mom made us clean our rooms once a week, mine never stayed clean until the next dreaded, designated cleaning day. This has followed me, like a shadow that never leaves, throughout a stint in my college dorms and the various places I've rented. I may have been slightly delusional when I thought that "nesting" would make me want to clean top-to-bottom.

To go into deeper detail, I like a clean living space. It looks better, it feels better, and it is less stressful. However I do not like cleaning. Cleaning is a drag, sometimes it makes me grouchy.  Okay, a lot of the time it makes me grouchy.

I was waiting anxiously to be bit by the 'nesting' bug. I was both excited and a little nervous. Pregnancy has done many weird things to my body (examples in the following paragraph though feel free to skip) that I couldn't believe it had one more giant change up its sleeve -- I am supposed to have the desire to clean!

Examples of downright strange issues pregnancy has presented me with: Without Zofran (anti-nausea medicine), I would have literally thrown up the whole entire time. At one point during the summer, I was eating an entire watermelon a week. By myself.  I'm constantly burning up, even setting our air conditioner to 16* C (60.8* F, mind you).

Anyhoo, back to this traditional nesting business. I'll tell you this: I have a much stronger desire to have a clean house than I have in the past. Is our home clean? No, though I do plan on working on it this weekend It does irritate me to see dirty dishes in the sink and I hope I never take a dishwasher for granted again but when it comes down to finding places for all of our things we shipped over from California? The task is still daunting. I don't want to do it myself. I don't want to do it at all, to be frank. I wouldn't mind having a little leprechaun cleaning lady to dictate to - "That goes over there, you can put that here -- oh and can you please clean the upstairs toilet?" I don't think she's going to show up, though. So trudging through housework I'll go...

If I got a grade for my traditional nesting skills, I'd flunk. I did get bit by my own unique nesting bug, though: I want to cook, I want to bake, I want to create delicious items in our kitchen. As recent as this spring I would rather clean than be in the kitchen, so that may tell you something. Now I browse the internet for recipes for fun.

Now I'm a regular little Betty Crocker, though. Minus an oven. Have I mentioned I can't figure out our oven? The characters are in Japanese and it isn't set up like an American oven. However I like to think I've been doing just fine with the range and crockpot (thank you, Mom!). I've even made a "no bake" peanut butter bar recipe! Oh, and some no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies but those tasted like garbage.

Long story short, I'd like to share some recipes that I've stumbled upon with you. Chances are you, the reader, can already make what I'm learning to make by memory and it probably tastes better, too but I'm so darn excited I'm going to share anyway.

For example tonight I made Buffalo Chex Mix, a recipe I found on All Recipes. We haven't taste tested it yet but I'll be sure to let you know next time I come to share a recipe.

Buffalo Chex Mix

Ingredients:
4c rice Chex
4c wheat Chex
2c Parmesan-flavored goldfish crackers
2c pretzel twists
6T butter
2 1/2T hot sauce
2t celery seed
(1) 1oz packet of dry ranch dressing

Directions:

1. In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, crackers and pretzels; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in hot sauce and seasonings. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.
2. Microwave uncovered on High 4 to 5 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container.

Modifications: I didn't have Parm-flavored goldfish crackers so I used 2c of reduced fat Cheez-Its instead. I used Tabasco sauce as the 'hot sauce' though I debated using the hot wing-sauce we have. Last but not least I added 1/4c of almonds, cashews, and peanuts -- a total of 3/4c nuts.