Do I Really Need to Go Gluten Free????

There are so many reasons to choose a gluten free lifestyle ranging from medical necessity to wanting to lose weight.   Regardless of your reasons, your body will reap several benefits.

My T1D (Type 1 Diabetic) is likely celiac.  Before you say I'm the worst Mom in the world for not knowing for sure, some facts...  To get an accurate blood test, the person needs to be eating a lot of gluten for three months.  One day of heavy gluten sent my precious nine year old curled up on the couch crying that his tummy hurt.  A few times of this and our family made the choice.  There was no way I was going to cause pain to my baby for three months for a blood test.  (Hopefully, I've redeemed my mommy status.)

Around the same time, a sweet friend (Shout out to Nicole TFF) lent me Wheat Belly.  The scariest book I have ever read.  Stephen King doesn't even come close.  Each chapter there was another health ailment someone in my family suffers from that wheat makes worse.  Basically, wheat is now frankenfood that everyone should avoid.

Digestive issues and obesity are main reasons for letting go of our love affair for bread.  Wheat is also linked to cataracts, wrinkles, acne, dementia, seizures, and more.  This beast also alters your body's pH to acid which is never good.

First, everyone was on board.  In the next breath, my boys (hubby included) were scared.  With so much we could no longer eat, what would we eat?  After calming the masses, we looked at what we already eat that is gluten free.  It was a welcoming surprise that we already embrace many gluten free recipes.  One of our favorites:  Chicken Celery Casserole.

 Dice up celery. 1, 2, or 3 bunches.  The more you want to eat, the more you should dice.

When I don't have cooked chicken on hand, I cook it on the stove; covered.  Season with the flavors that you are feeling in the moment.

Add some yummies:  mayo, sour cream, and cheese.

Mix together and put in a 9X13 pan.

Bake to how brown you want it.  After all, the chicken is already cooked. I can usually only wait this long.

BAM!! Complete meal totally guilt free.

1 pound chicken diced and cooked
1-2 stalks of celery diced
1 cup our cream (skip the fat-free versions)
1/2 cup may
handful sliced almonds
3/4 cup cheese
garlic, salt, pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients.  Pour into a greased 9 x 13 glass dish.  Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.

Fun add in options to kick up the veggie content:  sauteed onions and mushrooms.

A Take on the Pillowcase Dress

I have two wonderful boys, so I make a lot of pajamas and shirts.  Never a dress.  Not even for myself.  Really need to find a way to get selfish with my time.  I've bought fabric; I might have even washed it.  My niece has girls, so now I get to spoil my great nieces.  And they need cute dresses.

Always wash the fabric first.  This takes care of any major shrinking that may occur and any color bleeding.

Gather your supplies.  Measure from chest to where you want the dress to end to know how much fabric you need.

Fold fabric in half, raw edges together.  Cut straight across length of dress.  Cut diagonal line from outside bottom corner to top outside corner 2" in.

Cut "J" out for armholes, 6" down for little girls; 7-8" for bigger girls; 2" in.






Place wrong sides together and sew outside edges.







Iron seams open.  Sew on bias.  Or hem roll arm holes.  

Fold bottom hem in 1/8", iron, fold over 1/8" again, iron.  Stitch.  I don't measure it.  This is my least favorite part.  I want it over as fast as possible.


For the casing, fold in 1/8" iron, fold over 1" (This I measure.), iron.  Stitch.

If you want to add the ruffle bling,  measure ribbon three times the width of the dress.  Zig-Zag stitch.  Pull thread to make ruffle gather, pin, stitch.  Add contrasting rick-rack to top of ribbon.



Thread ribbon through casing for arm straps.  I like one bow.  You could make two bows.  Stitch in middle to prevent ribbon from coming out of casing.  You could make your own bias for the straps.

 WooHoo all done!

 My lovely son just as he realized Daddy had the camera.

Family Reading: Not just boooks

My children do a great job of humbling me.  I teach teachers how to teach reading.  My own biological children really really like possessing books.  Reading them, not so much.  Today, Tighe (7) said,

“Reading isn't fun. All you do is have to lay down and read. All I like about reading is looking at the pictures."  I would love if he would let me sit and read!!

We do family reading nights.  Everyone is in a book, Dad, Mom, and our two sons.  Sometimes we all have the same book and take turns reading out loud.To grab a book on their own is completely different. I'm left with the task of emphasizing literacy to my outdoorsy children.  

Since books are on the top of the list, we read EVERYTHING else.  They write and read back grocery lists. They read recipes and do measurement conversions.  They read food labels nutritional content and ingredients. They read directions to their friends house.

These videos share a few more ideas to help get more reading into your day.

Make EVERY Meal Healthier!

 

You can make every meal healthier with volumetrics.  Volumetrics is the idea of adding volume to your food by adding vegetables.  Add any combination of vegetables to any meal and poof; it is healthier for you and your whole family.  When cooking any protein: hamburger, chicken, or eggs, adding vegetables during the cooking process allows the vegetable to take on some of the flavor.  Think of the texture you want your meal to have.  Onions and celery can provide a tongue pleasing crunch.  The more they are cooked, they softer they get.  Some vegetables blend better than others.  Spinach can go in anything and be virtually undetectable, even in smoothies!  Broccoli, on the other hand has a very strong taste.  Onions and bell peppers are the veggies I most frequently add.  Play around in the kitchen and see what you and your family like.

 

Healthier Recipe Makeover

Original Recipe

Found in the deli section

 

 

12 oz Chorizo

1/2 c bell pepper

1 package Simply Potatoes Southwest Style Hash Browns

2 c. shredded cheese

4 eggs

1 c. milk

1 tomato, diced

 

Makeover recipe

Chorizo

1/2 Onion

1 bunch Celery

1 red bell pepper

1 package Simply Potatoes Southwest Style Hash Browns 

1 c. shredded cheese

6 eggs

1 c. milk

2 eggs

1 tomato, diced

 

If you want the dish spicier, add cumin and Cajun to egg mixture.

Heat oven to 350. Spray 9x13 casorol dish.  Cook chorizo onion and celery till Chorizo is done.  Add red bell pepper. In a bowl, beat eggs and milk. Place half bag of hashbrowns in dish. Top with half chorizo mix and 1/2 cup cheese.  Repeat.  Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes.  Uncover, add tomato, and cook an additional 15 minutes.

My son requested this for his special birthday breakfast. Yummm!

Summer Dinner Survival

The great thing about summer is the extra sunlight.  More time to play for everyone.  Hunger sets in, and it’s 8:00!  There is no way I want to cook a meal that late.  Getting fast food isn’t what I want my boys putting in their bodies.  New house rule:  If dinner isn’t started by 6:00, it’s shakes for everyone.  Not ice cream milk shakes -  healthy, all natural meal replacement shakes.  The boys pick their flavor, add in some fruit since we were playing hard, and they are good to go.  Not only do I get to fill their bellies with primo nutrition far surpassing a supper sized #5, but I also enjoy minimal cleanup.  Wash the blender and four cups.  Then right back outside to enjoy the last of summer sunshine for the day.

Family Unplugged

Technology has been wonderful for medical advancements. Yet, I cringe when I hear people say they have to catch up on their facebook.  What about catching up with your family?  We have all seen the posts saying how good family time is going.  I have to ask:  If family time is going so well, how do you have time to post it?  Tell us how great it was after the kidos are asleep.  I've found my family together in the same room, but we aren't together.  Tighe is in his DS, Patrick is in his phone, Dad is in his phone, I'm in my laptop.  I want my family to be into each other.  In the past, we have done 1 week technology free a few times.  It helps us focus on each other, but once the week is up, we go right back to our old habits. I'm currently taking a technology class that has me in my laptop most of my day. I miss my family.  I choose to marry a man I liked! This summer we are making a technology challenge that we can actually continue.  One day  of the week we will be free of facebook, Candy Crush, Bejeweled, Zinga Poker, internet surfing, game consoles, and TV.  My guys picked Thursday. What day will you choose?