Sneaky? Who, me???

I spent Sunday afternoon baking the last of the “Miss Betty” oatmeal raisin cookies for Scott and making a great big pot of chili.  I also made pepperoni hot pockets.  Whew.  I was tired.

Everybody has their favorite chili recipe.  But me…I just go the Granny Fussell route and start throwing stuff in the pot.  It eventually becomes chili.  But this time I had a “secret” ingredient.

I have been concerned that the girls aren’t getting enough true vegetables.  A coworker, whom I can’t name cause she said so, told me about a little trick of adding pureed cauliflower to mashed potatoes and other side dishes.  As I looked over a few different chili recipes, one vegetarian that I would even eat, it hit me.  If you can hide cauliflower to mashed potatoes, certainly you it can hide out in chili.

I gathered up all my chili fixin’s and got to work.  Chopped an onion and sautéed it in some olive oil.  Then, added ground beef.  Sometimes I use ground turkey, deer or pork, just whatever.  After adding the ground beef, I steamed the cauliflower in the microwave until fork tender.

I then broke out with my trusty mini chopper and chopped the cauliflower up very fine.  But not pureed. And added it to the pot along with the rest of my chili stuff.  After it had simmered about an hour, I had to test it out.  Absolutely no hint of cauliflower.

But the real test was AnnaBelle who not only is a chili connoisseur, but also likes cauliflower.  She had no clue and declared it to be excellent chili.  So I let her in on the secret.  She asked for some more. 

But could I get it by Carlee?  I wasn’t sure.

So tonight, Maddie, AnnaBelle and I had chili with cheese and sour cream.  Carlee had tortilla chips with a few spoonfuls of chili and cheese.  Would she eat it?  Could she tell?  The suspense was killing me.

Two platefuls of nachos later, she had no clue.  I had successfully managed to get Mitchell County’s pickiest eater to ingest a vegetable.  Cauliflower at that.  And she still doesn’t know.

This went over so well, that I will try this with spaghetti next week.  There are so many things that cauliflower can hide in.  Manwich meat, white chicken chili, chicken enchiladas.  The possibilities are endless.  So if you are struggling to get your family to eat more vegetables, get sneaky.  Slip in some cauliflower.  I promise I’ll never tell!

Saved by Cooking Ahead

A few weeks back several coworkers and I purchased chicken from local distributor, H&L from Pelham.  We do this occasionally and I bought my usual, a 10 pound bag of chicken tenders.  This is great quality chicken and the tenders are easier for me to handle/cut up due to my "issues" with my right hand.

I brought the chicken home from work on my lunch hour and divied it up into several bags for the freezer, mixed up the previous crock pot teriyaki chicken and I boiled about 2lbs.  I seasoned the chicken with a little garlic salt, black pepper and dehydrated onions.

After the chicken cooled, I shredded it with forks and put in a freezer bag.  I also froze the chicken broth because it will soon be potato soup weather.  (Hint to the coworkers.)  The broth is seasoned lightly and lower in sodium than store bought.

When I ask the girls what would you like to choose to go on our dinner calendar, I get the same three answers.  Maddie wants chicken enchiladas, Carlee wants chicken broccoli casserole and AnnaBelle wants homemade Mexican.  So we go through a lot of chicken.

At Carlee's request, Tuesday night was chicken broccoli casserole.  The last few weeks have been long ones.  Work, homework, cross country and football have about tuckered me out. The thought of having to completely pull together a meal taxed my frazzled brain even more.

Lucky for me, I had cooked ahead!  I took the  frozen chicken and one 4 cup container of broth out of the freezer Tuesday morning.  It defrosted during the day.  It was so nice to come home to ingredients, ready to go.  No cooking chicken and no chopping!!

I threw the casserole together after we came in from cross country practice.  It takes about 10 minutes to mix together and about 30ish to cook.  I made a very large dish, 11 X 17ish, because the girls like to take leftovers for lunch.  While it cooked, Carlee studied.

Ingredients:
3 to 4 cups shredded chicken
4 cups chicken broth
1 large bag broccoli florets
cheddar jack cheese (1 cup)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayo
ritz crackers
margarine
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1. Place cooked/shredded chicken in large glass baking dish.
2. Microwave broccoli for 6-8 minutes and cover chicken.
3. While the broccoli cooks, whisk together chicken broth, soup, sour cream and mayo.
4. Evenly spread broccoli over the chicken.
5. Add the cheese and spread over broccoli. (use more or less)
6. Pour soup mixture over evenly over the dish.
7. Top with crumbled crackers and pat with margarine.
8. Cook for 25-30 minutes until topping is brown.

The liquid ingredients are a guesstimate.  If you don't think you have enough liquid to cover you dish, use additional broth, sour cream or mayonnaise.

Serve over rice.  For school lunch leftovers, I place rice in the bottom of a small container then add the casserole.  This is a major hit with Carlee, the picky eater.  If we have any extra leftovers are saved for a few nights later. 

Bonus:  These leftovers are also great to freeze in a small container for Scott.  He can defrost and reheat on the road in the big truck.  He so rarely gets a home cooked meal and enjoys his from home frozen dinners!

Things to come....

I am trying to add some pages and work on sprucing up my blog so that I can add some family recipes, calendars and pdf's in the future.  Please bear with me as I try several things.  I am html illiterate and really need to find a high school computer guru to help me.

So if any of you computer geniuses want to help out, give an old lady a holler!  And I'm open to suggestions!!

I will leak one small detail...I'm working on putting together about 20 of my Granny Fussell's recipes.  Granny was an amazing cook.  My mama really got it honest!

Primal Scream….Cleaning and Organizing

It just doesn’t feel like I’m making any progress…I have been steadily working on the kitchen, mainly because it is my favorite place.  Y’all ever met a fat girl that wasn’t happy in the kitchen??  Alrighty then.  Plus my kids really like to eat.  Sometimes I swear I’m feeding three teenage boys.  Their older brother liked to eat but these “growing” girls almost put him to shame!

So far I have cleaned out my bottom cabinets.  I have a whole bin of mismatched bowls and lids.  I am trying to reduce these.  If they have stains or look a bit used, in the garbage they go!  I rearranged the bottom three cabinets but would like to add some pull drawers or wire pull out baskets to help with organizing as well as my “cripple-itis”.  I looked at some from Lowes…they would make me a great birthday present later this month.  Hint Hint, honey!!

The orphaned lonely bowls and lids.

I still have one corner of my cabinets that I just can’t seem to get “cleaned off”.  This is where my crock pot also resides.  I’m hoping to make some more kitchen progress this week.  My goals are:

1.       Get that corner cleaned out…finally!!

2.       Start on upper cabinets.  This will take longer, there are more of them.

3.      Get a new red dish drain.  My old one will be re-purposed to the camper.  I like red and   just want a pretty new one.

4.       Clean out the refrigerator, a fate worse than I’m not really sure

5.       Tackle the pantry. Not going to happen this week.  But it makes the list!!

The Rest of the House

This is where things get a little bit tricky.  See, I’ve asked my darling daughters to assist with chores for the past two weeks.  Apparently, they only hear VERY LOUD YELLING.  And do not understand the relationship between working, not working and hunger.  So I am making them a chore list.  It MUST be completed by Saturday noon.  If not, two things will happen.

Consequence numero uno: Not football game for them Saturday night.

Consequence numero dos: a reduction of my dollars contributed to their college savings. Say what?  Oh, I’m a mean, mean momma.  Puhlease.  They can either help in this house or I will reduce what I sacrifice for college savings and pay someone to help me keep the house clean.

The principal is work now or work later when your friends are playing.  Pick one.  I don’t care.  Just sweep, mop and clean your own toilet. Load and unload the dishwasher.  Simple stuff.  That’s a mighty fine deal.  Once I wish someone had made me.

Personally, I feel that I’ll be calling someone very shortly to help with some cleaning.  But at least I’m willing to give the little angels a chance!

 

In all of this cleaning, I found my wedding silverware.  We have never used it.  Since most of my forks have vanished, I decided it was about time to use the good stuff.  What have I been saving it for? IF RAD has a positive point, I’ve learned to not put off some things, like using the good forks, knives and spoons.  Becky

 

 

Homemade Hot Pockets

Sorry this is such a short post.  It has been one of those extremely busy and exhausting weeks.  We started the week Tuesday with a cross country meet and haven't slowed down yet.  Between very busy days at work and tons of homework, there hasn't been any extra time for writing.  And I can tell because my stress level is through the roof!!

I will try very diligently to get back on track this weekend. My joints are achy and I realize this is a sign that my body needs rest.  So no football for me Friday night. sniff sniff  But I will be back in action for the next game.  Go Get 'em Cats!!

Hot Pocket Experiment

I finally found something Carlee would eat.  A miracle, right?  She loves the pizza pepperoni  hot pockets.  Even though these aren’t terribly expensive, I wondered could I make them at home cheaper than the $11.97 for a box of 10 at Harvey’s?

So off to the grocery store on Labor day to purchase ingredients:

Pepperoni $0.99                                        on sale for a 3 oz package (bought two and put in freezer!)

Grands Butter Biscuits $1.66                   also on sale (only made 3, used rest for breakfast!)

Hunts Spaghetti Sauce $.25                    (freeze leftovers, only used ¼)

1 cup shredded mozzarella  $1.22         (on hand from previous purchase)

Total:  $4.12        Cost per serving:  $0.515  vs Purchased:  $1.28 per serving

                            
I decided to “experiment” with smaller biscuits first.  When did they get so small?  The girls ate all of them, but the dough would not roll out large enough to put a “serving” of filling in.

For the larger grand biscuits, I rolled them out with a dough roller, smeared sauce on one side, placed about 5/6 pepperonis and covered with cheese.  I then folded over the dough and crimped the edges with a fork.  I lightly spread butter over the top and placed in a 350 degree oven for about 12/15 minutes.

After baking, I let them cool and then placed the entire baking sheet in the freezer.  After freezing, I put in zip loc bags for the lunch box. 

The Good News

All three lunch boxes came home empty.  Carlee and AnnaBelle both said that they would take them again.  These were quick and easy.  So we may try these again for Monday lunch boxes since I can make them and freeze on Sunday afternoon.

Menu Update Teriyaki chicken

Menu Update

I’m really trying hard to stick to our menu plan, which also helps with shopping.  We’ve had some activities and a lot of tests this week, so it has been hard. Scott was able to eat dinner with us Wednesday night, so I fixed one of his favorite meals, mini hamburger steaks, garlic mashed potatoes and green beans.  Also quick and easy.

Crockpot Teriyaki chicken

Quick and easy to mix up, was able to throw together during my 30 minute lunch.  I just somehow messed up thickening the sauce.  I served with white rice and steamed broccoli.  As usual, Maddie and AnnaBelle liked it.  Carlee at a few bites of chicken, rice and a few broccoli florets.  . 

Ingredients

2 lbs Chicken tenders
¾ cup sugar
¾ cup low sodium soy sauce
6 to 7 tsp of vinegar
Minced garlic
Minced ginger
A pinch of black pepper
2 cups of white rice
1 bag of broccoli florets (from Harveys)

Place chicken in crock pot. Mix together remaining ingredients and pour over chicken.  Cooked on low for 5 hours.  Remove chicken from liquid.  Pour liquid in a nonstick pan and thicken with mixture of 4 ½ teaspoons of cornstarch mixed in 4 ½ teaspoons of cold water.   This is the step I messed up. 

Place cooked chicken back in crockpot and cover with teriyaki sauce.  I nuked broccoli and placed on top of chicken.  Served over rice.  I was the only left over taker.  It reheated really well and I will have for lunch again Friday.


Crockpot Teriyaki chicken...found on pinterest

Mini Hamburger Steaks plus Leftovers
Scott’s loads were a little off this week due to the hurricane.  He was able to come through town and have dinner with us.  It was a treat to have dinner together as family, very rare for us during the week.  

I made one of his favorite meals, but it required going to the grocery store to pick up fresh ground chuck and some fresh square dinner rolls. This was simply easier on me, as trying to thaw out frozen meat would take too long.  I already had the other ingredients/staples on hand.  I also made a boat load of the mini hamburger steaks intentionally for leftovers.

Ingredients

3lbs ground chuck plus seasonings
Instant Garlic mashed potatoes (boxtop!)
Large can of green beans

I never make these the same and season the ground chuck with whatever I have on hand, garlic salt, black pepper, seasoned bread crumbs, etc.  I make the steaks about the size of my palm and cook in an iron skillet.  Sometimes we make onion gravy, but this time I didn’t. 

Dessert
Oatmeal Raisin cookies (for Scott made from Miss Betty’s cookie dough sale)
Peanut butter cookies
 

Leftovers were great.  All three girls took two hamburger steak sliders to school for lunch.  I even had them for dinner Thursday night.  We have a few left but I’m sure Scott will finish them off when he gets in Friday afternoon.  He loves a cheeseburger!!  The sliders were a very easy leftover for a school lunch for me to fix!!

Trying something new

Breakfast in the crockpot?  Trying a recipe I found on pinterest…cinnamon biscuits.  They were easy to throw together.  I will share with you how they turn out later.  If they are really good, maybe this will be something easy for Friday morning prayer breakfast!

Grape Ape: Part II Adapting to RAD Disease

My life must now adapt to this disease and its limitations.  Scott and I have to make “new” retirement plans. Our original plans were to sell out, buy a piece of property in Kentucky with a meter pole, well and septic tank and spend a few years full timing in a very large RV. Mosey through the west up to Alaska, work and ride a while.  Eventually settling back to Kentucky…the crossroad state of RVn nirvana, basically 8 to 10 hours from anywhere!  I want to see my flyover states…the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, ride route 66, and visit Oklahoma one more time.

Maybe not.  Alaska is too cold for me.  Probably not even Kentucky. Did I mention, I’m not that crazy about Florida or Arizona, even though both states have great weather for RAD patients? And forget riding.  I can barely ride to Macon and back without stoving up for days.  So we “adapt” our retirement plans…I just don’t know to what yet.  And I keep hoping for some new miracle drug.

Treatment (Just call me Dr. Thorpe)

Hmmmm.  This one gets me in a lot of trouble.  I am currently self-treating.  Prednisone as needed along with some Aleve.  I stopped the methotrexate injections to have a surgical procedure in April.  I started the injections back up in June only to have “side effects” return.  So, I am currently seeking ALL new doctors. It is my treatment plan and I can fire my RAD and gyn doctors if needed.  (Note: Methotrexate also thins the blood…no slicing and dicing when injecting.)

Yes, I need to get back into treatment.  I am well aware of how the disease is beginning to affect additional joints that were just fine six months ago.  Bear with me; it is difficult to return to a life of nausea, tiredness and hair falling out. 

Disease Progression

Is it worse? Probably.  I’ve developed sjogren’s syndrome, a kissing cousin to RAD.  The dry mouth has gotten really bad the last few weeks.  I long for a real crushed ice machine.  I keep water or tea with ice to drink all the time, especially at night.  Cotton mouth is yuck!

My joints burn similar to the sensation of having a foot asleep.  You know when it starts waking up and your nerves tingle and burn at the same time?  Except for its bones and joints that burn.  Shoulders, elbows, knees, toes, fingers.  Are you singing knees and toes, knees and toes?  Ha!

I have a large RAD nodule on my right arm near my elbow.  And I basically can’t bend my right wrist at all.  My fingers still work.  So as long as I can type and 10-key, I guess I can still hold down a job.  I joke with co-workers about developing a num pad for my feet.  Bet that would burn some calories!

The numbers tell me that I really need to work for at least another 5 years. That is my short term goal.  Sometimes my body tells me something altogether different.  If I’m lucky maybe the two will meet in the middle.  But, I’m still hoping for some type of new treatment that leads to a true “remission”.

Future Treatment Plan

·       Find another doctor or group of doctors that treat the entire RAD, not just the symptoms.

·       Weight loss…got to get some lard off these joints

·       Exercise…it is soooo hard when I’m tired.  I’m going to start walking more as soon as it cools off.  I also need to get my treadmill repaired.  Repairman suggestions?

·       Stress…less stress.  Much less stress.  Hear that darlin’ daughters? LESS STRESS.

·       More Rest. 

 

I have finally admitted that RAD affects everything that I do. Umm EVERYTHING.  I can brush my teeth with my left hand, brush my hair with my left hand and even have keyed financials with my left hand.  Now that’s adapting.